'Dream Song 38: The Russian grin bellows his condolence' by John Berryman
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77 Dream Songs1964The Russian grin bellows his condolence
t the family: ah but it's Kay,
& Ted, & Chris & Anne,
Henry thinks of: who eased his fearful way
from here, in here, to there. This wants thought.
I won't make it out.Maybe the source of noble such may come
clearer to dazzled Henry. It may come.
I'd say it will come with pain,
in mystery. I'd rather leave it alone.
I do leave it alone.
And down with the listener.Now he has become, abrupt, an industry.
Professional-Friends-Of-Robert-Frost all over
gap wide their mouths
while the quirky medium of so many truths
is quiet. Let's be quiet. Let us listen:
-What for, Mr Bones?-while he begins to have it out with Horace.
Editor 1 Interpretation
John Berryman's Dream Song 38: The Russian grin bellows his condolence
John Berryman's Dream Song 38: The Russian grin bellows his condolence is a complex and multi-layered poem that offers a deep insight into the human psyche. The poem is a part of Berryman's collection of poems known as "Dream Songs," which are known for their surrealistic imagery and dream-like quality.
At its core, Dream Song 38 is a meditation on grief, loss, and the human condition. The poem delves into the complexities of grief and the different ways we try to cope with it. The Russian grin in the poem serves as a symbol of the different ways we try to hide our pain and sorrow behind a facade of cheerfulness.
The Poem's Structure
The poem is structured in three stanzas, with each stanza consisting of six lines. The poem follows a loosely rhyming pattern, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming with each other. The poem's meter is also irregular, with some lines shorter or longer than others.
The poem's structure reflects the dream-like quality of the Dream Songs. The irregular meter and loose rhyme scheme create a sense of disorientation, much like the feeling of being in a dream. The poem's structure also reflects the disjointed nature of grief, with the lines jumping from one idea to the next without a clear connection.
The Poem's Themes
Dream Song 38 explores several themes, including grief, loss, and the human condition. The poem also touches on themes of identity and the masks we wear to hide our true emotions.
Throughout the poem, the speaker is grappling with the loss of a loved one. The Russian grin in the poem serves as a symbol of the different ways we try to cope with grief. The poem suggests that we often try to hide our pain and sorrow behind a facade of cheerfulness, much like the Russian grin.
The poem also explores the idea of identity and the masks we wear to hide our true emotions. The speaker in the poem talks about wearing a "face like a man who's never been away," suggesting that he is trying to present a face of normalcy to the world, even though he is grieving inside.
The Poem's Imagery
Dream Song 38 is known for its vivid and surrealistic imagery. The poem is filled with images that are both beautiful and disturbing. The imagery creates a sense of disorientation and unease, much like the feeling of being in a dream.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the image of the Russian grin. The image of the grin is both eerie and unsettling. The speaker describes the grin as "a widow's weeds, a half-inch grin," suggesting that the grin is a disguise, much like the widow's weeds.
The speaker in the poem also describes himself as having a "face like a man who's never been away." This image creates a sense of disconnect between the speaker and the world around him. The speaker is trying to present a face of normalcy to the world, even though he is grieving inside.
The Poem's Tone
Dream Song 38 is a complex and multi-layered poem that can be read in several different ways. The poem's tone is both mournful and surrealistic. The speaker in the poem is wrestling with feelings of grief and loss, but the poem's imagery creates a sense of disorientation and unease.
The poem's tone is also marked by a sense of detachment. The speaker in the poem is trying to distance himself from the world around him, but he is unable to do so. The poem suggests that grief is a universal experience that we all must face, no matter how much we try to distance ourselves from it.
The Poem's Meaning
Dream Song 38 is a powerful meditation on grief, loss, and the human condition. The poem suggests that grief is a universal experience that we all must face at some point in our lives. The poem also suggests that we often try to hide our pain and sorrow behind a facade of cheerfulness, much like the Russian grin.
At its core, Dream Song 38 is a deeply emotional and personal poem that speaks to the human experience. The poem's vivid imagery and dream-like quality create a sense of disorientation and unease, but they also serve to highlight the universal nature of grief and loss.
Conclusion
Dream Song 38: The Russian grin bellows his condolence is a powerful and multi-layered poem that delves into the complexities of grief and the human condition. The poem's surrealistic imagery and dream-like quality create a sense of disorientation and unease, but they also serve to highlight the universal nature of grief and loss.
The poem suggests that grief is a universal experience that we all must face, no matter how much we try to distance ourselves from it. The Russian grin in the poem serves as a symbol of the different ways we try to cope with grief, and the poem suggests that we often try to hide our pain and sorrow behind a facade of cheerfulness.
Overall, Dream Song 38 is a deeply emotional and personal poem that speaks to the human experience. The poem's vivid imagery and dream-like quality make it a powerful meditation on grief, loss, and the masks we wear to hide our true emotions.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman’s “Dream Song 38: The Russian grin bellows his condolence” is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and the human condition. Written in the form of a dream song, the poem is a surreal and fragmented narrative that follows the speaker as he grapples with the death of a loved one. Through vivid imagery, striking metaphors, and a unique poetic voice, Berryman creates a powerful and haunting meditation on the nature of mourning and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream in which he is visited by a Russian man who offers his condolences for the speaker’s loss. The man’s “grin” is described as “huge” and “terrible,” and his words are “bellows” that seem to echo through the speaker’s mind. The image of the Russian man is both unsettling and intriguing, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
As the dream continues, the speaker reflects on the nature of grief and the difficulty of finding solace in the face of loss. He describes the “blackness” that surrounds him, and the sense of isolation and despair that comes with it. The speaker’s language is raw and emotional, and he uses vivid metaphors to convey the intensity of his pain. He describes himself as a “crazy bird” and a “wounded bear,” and he speaks of the “thunder” that rages inside him.
Despite the darkness and despair of the speaker’s grief, there are moments of hope and beauty in the poem. The speaker describes a vision of a “golden bird” that appears to him, and he speaks of the “sweetness” that he feels in the midst of his sorrow. These moments of light and beauty are fleeting, however, and they are quickly overshadowed by the speaker’s overwhelming sense of loss.
Throughout the poem, Berryman’s use of language is striking and powerful. He employs a range of poetic techniques, including repetition, alliteration, and internal rhyme, to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. The dream song form allows Berryman to experiment with language and structure, and he uses this freedom to great effect. The poem is full of unexpected turns of phrase and surprising images, and it is this sense of unpredictability that gives the poem its energy and vitality.
One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way in which Berryman uses the Russian man as a symbol for the speaker’s grief. The man’s “grin” is described as both “huge” and “terrible,” and his words are “bellows” that seem to echo through the speaker’s mind. This image of the Russian man as a kind of embodiment of grief is both powerful and unsettling, and it adds an extra layer of complexity to the poem.
Another key theme in the poem is the idea of searching for meaning in the face of tragedy. The speaker is grappling with the loss of a loved one, and he is struggling to make sense of his grief. He speaks of the “blackness” that surrounds him, and the sense of isolation and despair that comes with it. Despite this, however, there are moments of hope and beauty in the poem, and the speaker seems to be searching for a way to find meaning and purpose in the midst of his sorrow.
In conclusion, John Berryman’s “Dream Song 38: The Russian grin bellows his condolence” is a powerful and haunting poem that explores themes of grief, loss, and the human condition. Through vivid imagery, striking metaphors, and a unique poetic voice, Berryman creates a complex and multi-layered meditation on the nature of mourning and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy. The poem is a testament to the power of language and the human spirit, and it is a work of art that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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