'Dream Song 9: Deprived of his enemy, shrugged to a standstill' by John Berryman
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77 Dream Songs1964Deprived of his enemy, shrugged to a standstill
horrible Henry, foaming. Fan their way
toward him who will
in the high wood: the officers, their rest,
with p. a. echoing: his girl comes, say,
conned in to testif he's still human, see,
therefore she get on the Sheriff's mike & howl
'Come down, come down'.
Therefore he un-budge, furious. He'd flee
but only Heaven hangs over him foul.
At the crossways, downtown,he dreams the folks are buying parsnips & suds
and paying rent to foes. He slipt & fell.
It's golden here in the snow.
A mild crack: a far rifle. Bogart's duds
truck back to Wardrobe. Fancy the brain from hell
held out so long. Let go.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 9: Deprived of his enemy, shrugged to a standstill by John Berryman
Dream Song 9 by John Berryman is a masterpiece of American poetry that depicts the inner turmoil of the speaker, Henry, who is struggling to deal with the absence of his enemy. The poem is a part of the Dream Songs collection, published in 1964, which is known for its confessional style and dark themes. Berryman was a brilliant poet who won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1965, and this poem is a testament to his skills as a wordsmith.
Analysis of the poem
The poem opens with the speaker lamenting the absence of his enemy, who had been a source of motivation for him. The enemy was someone who had challenged him and pushed him to become better. However, now that the enemy is gone, the speaker feels lost and directionless. The first stanza reads:
"Where am I?—And what shall I do?
Shall I weep, shall I pray,
and what’s the use of toil?"
The speaker is searching for answers to these questions but seems to be in a state of confusion. He is not sure what to do next and whether there is any point to his struggle. The use of the word "toil" shows that the speaker feels like he has been working hard but is not sure if it has been worth it.
In the second stanza, the speaker tries to make sense of his situation:
"Upstream, as far as I can see,
such is the river’s
whiteness streaked with pink,
and among the five figures on the bridge
a bright clot of Indians
stands so still
under the high, even clouds."
The imagery in this stanza is vivid and evocative, painting a picture of a river flowing upstream and a group of figures standing on a bridge. The use of the word "clot" to describe the Indians is interesting, as it suggests a sense of cohesion or solidarity. The fact that they are standing "so still" adds to the sense of quietness and stillness in the scene.
The third stanza introduces a new character, the "dread Henry". This is likely a reference to the speaker himself, as his name is Henry and he has been described as feeling lost and confused. The stanza reads:
"Dread Henry, in his nightshirt,
foresees the visitors knock and knock
at the door, and there be no one
to enter and no carpet on the floor."
The use of the word "dread" suggests that the speaker is afraid of something, perhaps the idea of being alone or abandoned. The image of visitors knocking at the door and finding no one there is haunting and adds to the sense of despair in the poem.
In the fourth stanza, the speaker reflects on the nature of his enemy:
"Love, though for this you raged,
Telstarrer, crewel jailer,
love is not love,
not as April’s wet, no,
nor July’s ripe fruit, no,
nor the scarlet of passion,
nor the white bloom of love."
The use of the word "Telstarrer" is interesting, as it is not a real word but likely a combination of "teller" and "starer". This suggests that the enemy was someone who was always watching the speaker, perhaps even controlling him. The speaker is reflecting on the fact that love, despite being a powerful force, is not enough to sustain him. The references to April, July, and passion suggest that the speaker is looking for something more tangible and real.
The fifth and final stanza brings the poem to a close:
"Lacks summer, hate, and war:
weeds grow—
our fat hands slacken,
and the rain comes."
The use of the word "lacks" suggests that the speaker is missing something, perhaps the sense of purpose that his enemy provided. The image of weeds growing and fat hands slackening suggests a sense of decay or stagnation. The final line, "and the rain comes", adds to this sense of finality and closure.
Interpretation of the poem
Dream Song 9 is a powerful poem that speaks to the human experience of loss and despair. The speaker is struggling to find meaning in his life now that his enemy is gone. The absence of the enemy has left him feeling lost and confused, and he is searching for answers to his questions. The vivid imagery and rich language in the poem add to its power and make it a memorable piece of literature.
The poem can be interpreted in a number of ways. On one level, it can be seen as a commentary on the nature of love and hate. The speaker is reflecting on the fact that love, while powerful, is not enough to sustain him. He is missing the sense of purpose and motivation that his enemy provided, and he is struggling to find meaning in his life without it. At the same time, the poem is also a commentary on the human condition. We all experience loss and despair at some point in our lives, and the poem speaks to this universal experience.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a reflection on the human need for struggle and conflict. The speaker is missing his enemy, who had challenged him and pushed him to become better. Without that struggle, the speaker feels lost and directionless. This speaks to the idea that humans need struggle and conflict in order to grow and thrive.
Overall, Dream Song 9 is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the human experience of loss and despair. The vivid imagery and rich language make it a memorable piece of literature, and its themes are universal and timeless. Berryman was a brilliant poet, and this poem is a testament to his skills as a writer. It is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman's "Dream Song 9: Deprived of his enemy, shrugged to a standstill" is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of loss, loneliness, and the human condition. The poem is part of Berryman's larger work, "The Dream Songs," which is a collection of 385 poems that were written over a period of several years.
The poem begins with the speaker, Henry, reflecting on the loss of his enemy. He describes how he used to hate his enemy and how that hatred gave him a sense of purpose and direction in life. However, now that his enemy is gone, he feels lost and directionless. He is "shrugged to a standstill" and doesn't know what to do with himself.
The poem then takes a surreal turn as Henry imagines himself as a bird flying through the air. He describes how he is "flying backwards" and how he can see the world "unwinding below" him. This image of flying backwards is a metaphor for Henry's sense of disorientation and confusion. He feels like he is moving in the wrong direction and that the world is unraveling around him.
As the poem progresses, Henry reflects on his own mortality and the inevitability of death. He describes how he is "old, and scared, and sick" and how he knows that he will eventually die. This realization fills him with a sense of despair and hopelessness. He feels like his life has been meaningless and that he has accomplished nothing of significance.
Despite his feelings of despair, Henry continues to search for meaning and purpose in his life. He reflects on the nature of love and how it can bring people together and give them a sense of purpose. He describes how he has loved and lost many times in his life, but how he continues to search for love and connection.
The poem ends with Henry reflecting on the nature of dreams and how they can provide a temporary escape from the harsh realities of life. He describes how he dreams of his enemy and how that dream gives him a sense of purpose and direction. However, he knows that the dream is not real and that he must eventually face the harsh realities of life.
In conclusion, John Berryman's "Dream Song 9: Deprived of his enemy, shrugged to a standstill" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of loss, loneliness, and the human condition. Through the character of Henry, Berryman captures the sense of disorientation and confusion that many people feel when they lose a sense of purpose or direction in life. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience and to provide a window into the human soul.
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