'Dream Song 67: I don't operate often. When I do' by John Berryman

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77 Dream Songs1964I don't operate often. When I do,
persons take note.
Nurses look amazed. They pale.
The patient is brought back to life, or so.
The reason I don't do this more (I quote)
is: I have a living to fail-because of my wife & son-to keep from earning.
-Mr Bones, I sees that.
They for these operations thanks you, what?
not pays you. -Right.
You have seldom been so understanding.
Now there is further a difficulty with the light:I am obliged to perform in complete darkness
operations of great delicacy
on my self.
-Mr Bones, you terrifies me.
No wonder they didn't pay you. Will you die?
-Myfriend, I succeeded. Later.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 67: I Don't Operate Often. When I Do

Dream Song 67 is a poem written by John Berryman, which is part of his collection, "The Dream Songs". Berryman was an American poet famous for his confessional poetry, which dealt with his personal struggles and experiences. Dream Song 67 is one of the most popular poems in the collection and is known for its enigmatic and complex language. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem in detail and try to understand its meaning and significance.

The Poem

First, let's take a look at the poem:

I don't operate often. When I do persons take note. The surgeon's cut proves that you were one time beautiful and now are sucked back dull.

The body is amazing in its grace and astonishes in its metamorphoses which it loves to undergo, and which processes it, so to speak.

One knows what one knows. People are dull who aren't fascinated by the mysterious workings of the body, the blood, the brain, the cell, and how we all end up in hell.

The poem is written in free verse and has a total of 18 lines. It is divided into three stanzas, with each stanza consisting of six lines. The poem has a conversational tone and is addressed to the reader. The speaker in the poem is a surgeon who is reflecting on his profession and the human body.

Analysis

The poem begins with the speaker stating that he does not operate often. This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is focused on the speaker's thoughts about his profession. The use of the word "operate" is significant as it immediately brings to mind surgery and medical procedures. The line also has a sense of detachment, as if the speaker is trying to distance himself from his profession.

In the second line, the speaker refers to the surgeon's cut, which is a direct reference to surgery. The line also suggests that the surgery has changed the patient's physical appearance and beauty. The use of the word "sucked" is interesting as it implies a sense of loss and depletion. It is unclear whether the speaker is referring to the patient's physical appearance or their inner beauty.

The third and fourth lines of the poem are focused on the body and its grace. The speaker seems to be in awe of the human body and its ability to transform. The use of the word "metamorphoses" is significant as it suggests a sense of transformation and change. The line "which it loves to undergo" is interesting as it personifies the body and suggests that it has a will of its own.

The fifth and sixth lines of the stanza are focused on the mysterious workings of the body. The speaker seems to be suggesting that people who are not fascinated by the workings of the body are dull. The use of the word "mysterious" is significant as it suggests that the body is complex and difficult to understand.

The second stanza of the poem continues the theme of the body and its workings. The speaker seems to be suggesting that despite the complexities of the body, we still know what we know. The use of the word "processes" is interesting as it suggests that the body is constantly changing and adapting.

The third stanza of the poem is focused on the afterlife. The speaker suggests that we all end up in hell. This line is significant as it suggests that death is inevitable and that there is no escape from it. The use of the word "hell" is interesting as it suggests a sense of punishment and suffering.

Interpretation

Dream Song 67 is a complex and enigmatic poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways. At its core, the poem is about the human body and its transformations. The speaker seems to be in awe of the body's ability to adapt and change. However, there is also a sense of detachment and distance in the speaker's voice. This suggests that the speaker may be struggling with the moral implications of his profession.

The poem can also be interpreted as a reflection on the fear of death. The line "and how we all end up in hell" suggests that death is inevitable and that there is no escape from it. The use of the word "hell" is significant as it suggests a sense of punishment and suffering. This interpretation is further supported by the speaker's detached and clinical tone throughout the poem.

Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a critique of modern medicine and its focus on the physical body. The speaker seems to be suggesting that there is more to the human experience than the physical body. This interpretation is supported by the line "The surgeon's cut proves that you were one time beautiful and now are sucked back dull." The use of the word "sucked" suggests that modern medicine may be draining the life out of people.

Conclusion

Dream Song 67 is a complex and enigmatic poem that deals with the human body and its transformations. The poem is written in a conversational tone and is addressed to the reader. The speaker seems to be struggling with the moral implications of his profession and the fear of death. However, the poem can also be interpreted as a critique of modern medicine and its focus on the physical body. Overall, Dream Song 67 is a fascinating poem that leaves the reader with a lot to think about.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Dream Song 67: I don't operate often. When I do, written by John Berryman, is a classic poem that explores the themes of identity, mortality, and the human condition. In this 36-line poem, Berryman uses his signature Dream Song style to create a surreal and haunting portrait of a man who is struggling to come to terms with his own existence.

The poem begins with the speaker declaring that he doesn't "operate often," a statement that immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The word "operate" suggests a sense of detachment and clinical precision, as if the speaker is a machine rather than a human being. This idea is reinforced by the next line, which reads, "When I do, it's with my whole / personality."

Here, Berryman is suggesting that the speaker is not fully present in his own life, that he is somehow disconnected from his own emotions and experiences. The use of the word "personality" is particularly significant, as it implies that the speaker is not a unified whole, but rather a collection of disparate parts that are struggling to coexist.

As the poem continues, the speaker begins to reflect on his own mortality. He describes himself as a "dead man," and wonders what it would be like to die. This is a common theme in Berryman's work, and it speaks to the universal fear of death that is present in all of us.

The speaker then goes on to describe a dream that he had, in which he was "a little boy / again, under the trees." This dream is significant because it suggests a desire to return to a simpler time, a time before the complexities of adulthood and the weight of mortality had taken hold.

However, the dream quickly turns dark, as the speaker describes a "black snake" that is "coiled around my neck." This image is both disturbing and powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is being choked by his own fears and anxieties.

The poem then takes a surreal turn, as the speaker describes a "giant hand" that comes down from the sky and "crushes" him. This image is both terrifying and awe-inspiring, as it suggests a sense of cosmic power that is beyond human comprehension.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most haunting, as the speaker declares that he is "not a man, not a woman, not a poet, not / a Christian, not a Jew, not a Gentile, not / a drunkard, not a saint, not a sinner, not / a human being." This statement is both a rejection of identity and a recognition of the limitations of language and categorization.

In conclusion, Poetry Dream Song 67: I don't operate often. When I do, written by John Berryman, is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of identity, mortality, and the human condition. Through his use of surreal imagery and his signature Dream Song style, Berryman creates a portrait of a man who is struggling to come to terms with his own existence. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience, and it remains a classic of American literature to this day.

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