'Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks' by John Berryman
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77 Dream Songs1964Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks.
The architecture is far from reassuring.
I feel uneasy.
A pity,-the interview began so well:
I mentioned fiendish things, he waved them away
and sloshed out a martinistrangely needed. We spoke of indifferent matters-
God's health, the vague hell of the Congo,
John's energy,
anti-matter matter. I felt fine.
Then a change came backward. A chill fell.
Talk slackened,died, and began to give me sideways looks.
'Chirst,' I thought 'what now?' and would have askt for another
but didn't dare.
I feel my applicationfailing. It's growing dark,
some other sound is overcoming. His last words are:
'We betrayed me.'
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks
Dream Song 55 is one of the most iconic poems written by John Berryman. It is a part of his famous “Dream Songs” series, which consists of 385 poems in total. Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks is a powerful and emotional tribute to Berryman’s friendship with Peter, who is portrayed as distant and unfriendly. This poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and it deserves to be analyzed in depth.
An Analysis of the Title
The title of the poem, Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks, immediately grabs the reader’s attention. It is a simple statement that conveys the central theme of the poem – the strained relationship between the speaker and Peter. The use of the word “friendly” implies that there was a time when the two were close, but now their relationship has soured. The phrase “sideways looks” suggests that Peter is avoiding eye contact with the speaker, which creates a sense of tension and unease.
An Analysis of the Poem
The poem begins with the speaker addressing Peter directly, saying “Peter’s not friendly.” This opening line is a bold statement that sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It immediately establishes the conflict between the two characters and raises questions about what has caused their relationship to deteriorate. The next line, “He gives me sideways looks,” reinforces the idea that Peter is avoiding the speaker, and adds to the sense of tension.
The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the speaker’s emotions. The speaker tells us that he is “sick of him,” which implies that he has been dealing with Peter’s unfriendly behavior for some time. The use of the word “sick” is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is not just frustrated with Peter, but that his behavior is having a physical impact on him. The line “the dense dull weasel” is also significant, as it implies that Peter is sly and deceitful.
The third stanza is particularly powerful, as it reveals the source of the speaker’s frustration. He tells us that Peter is “cool to me,” which suggests that he is not just unfriendly, but actively hostile towards the speaker. The line “I am not his” is particularly poignant, as it implies that the speaker feels rejected by Peter. The use of the word “lame” in this stanza is also significant, as it implies that the speaker feels powerless in his relationship with Peter.
The fourth stanza of the poem shifts focus again, this time to Peter’s behavior. The speaker tells us that Peter is “full of sneers,” which reinforces the idea that he is hostile towards the speaker. The line “I’ll say anything to be his friend” suggests that the speaker is desperate to repair their relationship, but that Peter is unwilling to reciprocate. This line is particularly powerful, as it implies that the speaker is willing to compromise his own values to maintain his friendship with Peter.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly poignant, as it reveals the speaker’s sense of isolation. He tells us that he is “alone,” which suggests that he has no other friends or support network. The line “in grief” reinforces the idea that the speaker is in a state of emotional turmoil, and that he is struggling to cope with Peter’s behavior. The final line of the poem, “I need the halves of friendship,” is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker feels incomplete without Peter.
A Critical Analysis of the Poem
Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks is a poem that explores the complexities of friendship. It is a powerful and emotional tribute to the pain that can come from the breakdown of a close relationship. Berryman’s use of language is particularly powerful, as he conveys the speaker’s emotions with great clarity.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of imagery. Berryman uses a range of animal imagery to convey the speaker’s emotions. Peter is described as a “weasel,” which suggests that he is sly and deceitful. The use of this image is particularly powerful, as it conveys the sense of betrayal that the speaker feels. The line “he gives me sideways looks” also creates a powerful image, as it suggests that Peter is avoiding eye contact with the speaker. This creates a sense of tension and unease, and reinforces the idea that Peter is hostile towards the speaker.
Another striking aspect of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase “Peter’s not friendly” is repeated throughout the poem, which creates a sense of emphasis and reinforces the central theme of the poem. The repetition of this phrase also creates a sense of urgency, as if the speaker is desperate to be heard.
The poem’s structure is also significant. It consists of five stanzas, each of which contains four lines. This creates a sense of symmetry and balance, which is significant as the poem deals with the breakdown of a relationship. The structure of the poem also reinforces the idea that the speaker is struggling to come to terms with his feelings, as he shifts focus from his own emotions to Peter’s behavior and back again.
A Personal Interpretation of the Poem
As a reader, Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks resonates with me on a personal level. The poem explores the pain of losing a close friend, which is an experience that many people can relate to. The speaker’s sense of isolation and desperation is particularly poignant, as it conveys the sense of loss that can come from the breakdown of a relationship.
The use of animal imagery in the poem also resonates with me. The image of the weasel creates a sense of betrayal, which is something that many people have experienced in their lives. The use of this image also creates a sense of powerlessness, as if the speaker is trapped in a situation that he cannot control.
In conclusion, Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks is a powerful and emotional tribute to the complexities of friendship. Berryman’s use of language, imagery, and repetition creates a poem that is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the deepest emotions of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of the Dream Songs, which is a collection of 385 poems written by Berryman. The Dream Songs are known for their unique style, which is a combination of free verse and formal poetry. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem starts with the line "Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is talking about Peter, who is not friendly towards him. The use of the word "sideways" in this line is significant. It suggests that Peter is not looking at the speaker directly, but rather, he is looking at him from the corner of his eye. This creates a sense of unease and discomfort for the speaker.
The second line of the poem reads, "The architecture is far from reassuring." This line is a metaphor for the speaker's state of mind. The architecture represents the structure of the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The fact that it is "far from reassuring" suggests that the speaker is feeling anxious and uncertain.
The third line of the poem reads, "I feel uneasy." This line is a direct expression of the speaker's emotions. The use of the word "uneasy" suggests that the speaker is feeling uncomfortable and unsure of himself.
The fourth line of the poem reads, "This towel with its silver stripe is ridiculous." This line is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of self. The towel represents the speaker's identity, and the silver stripe represents something that is supposed to make the speaker stand out. However, the speaker feels that this is ridiculous, suggesting that he does not feel comfortable with his own identity.
The fifth line of the poem reads, "I am afraid." This line is a direct expression of the speaker's emotions. The use of the word "afraid" suggests that the speaker is feeling scared and vulnerable.
The sixth line of the poem reads, "I think of Polacks nursing long beers in Tiltonsville." This line is a reference to the speaker's past. Tiltonsville is a small town in Ohio, where the speaker grew up. The reference to "Polacks" suggests that the speaker is thinking about the working-class people he grew up with. This line creates a sense of nostalgia for the speaker's past.
The seventh line of the poem reads, "And children climbing on stone walls." This line is a metaphor for the speaker's sense of innocence. The children represent the speaker's childhood, and the stone walls represent the boundaries that the speaker has since crossed. This line creates a sense of longing for the speaker's lost innocence.
The eighth line of the poem reads, "And the old men in dark rooms, listening." This line is a reference to the speaker's ancestors. The old men represent the speaker's forefathers, who are listening to the speaker's thoughts and emotions. This line creates a sense of connection between the speaker and his ancestors.
The ninth line of the poem reads, "I am afraid." This line is a repetition of the fifth line of the poem. The repetition emphasizes the speaker's fear and vulnerability.
The tenth line of the poem reads, "I am not loved." This line is a direct expression of the speaker's emotions. The use of the word "loved" suggests that the speaker is feeling unloved and unwanted.
The eleventh line of the poem reads, "I am not liked." This line is a repetition of the first line of the poem. The repetition emphasizes the fact that Peter is not friendly towards the speaker.
The twelfth line of the poem reads, "I am not wanted." This line is a direct expression of the speaker's emotions. The use of the word "wanted" suggests that the speaker is feeling unwanted and rejected.
The thirteenth line of the poem reads, "I am not loved." This line is a repetition of the tenth line of the poem. The repetition emphasizes the speaker's sense of loneliness and isolation.
The fourteenth line of the poem reads, "I am not liked." This line is a repetition of the eleventh line of the poem. The repetition emphasizes the fact that Peter is not friendly towards the speaker.
The fifteenth line of the poem reads, "I am not wanted." This line is a repetition of the twelfth line of the poem. The repetition emphasizes the speaker's sense of rejection and exclusion.
The sixteenth line of the poem reads, "Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks." This line is a repetition of the first line of the poem. The repetition emphasizes the fact that Peter is not friendly towards the speaker.
In conclusion, Poetry Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks is a powerful poem that explores the speaker's sense of fear, vulnerability, and loneliness. The use of metaphors and repetition creates a sense of unease and discomfort for the reader. The poem is a testament to Berryman's unique style and his ability to capture the complexities of human emotions.
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