'Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do' by John Berryman

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77 Dream Songs1964Collating bones: I would have liked to do.
Henry would have been hot at that.
I missed his profession.
As a little boy I always thought
'I'm an archeologist'; who
could be more respected peaceful serious than that?Hell talkt my brain awake.
Bluffed to the ends of me pain
& I took up a pencil;
like this I'm longing with. One sign
would snow me back, back.
is there anyone in the audience who has lived in vain?A Chinese tooth! African jaw!
Drool, says a nervous system,
for a joyous replacing. Heat burns off dew.
Between the Ices (Mindel-Würm)
in a world I ever saw
some of my drying people indexed: "Warm."

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry Analysis: Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do

John Berryman's Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do is a complex, dense, and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of mortality, identity, memory, and regret. The poem is part of Berryman's larger work, The Dream Songs, a collection of 385 poems that were written over a period of 14 years, from 1955 to 1969.

Summary of the Poem

The poem begins with the speaker lamenting the fact that he has not done what he would have liked to do, which is to "collate bones." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the speaker's desire to make sense of his life, to understand his own identity and mortality. The speaker then goes on to describe a series of images and memories, including a dream about a bird, a childhood memory of playing with toy soldiers, and a memory of his father's death.

The poem is written in a loose, free-verse style that is characteristic of Berryman's work. The language is often fragmented and elliptical, with sentences that trail off or are interrupted by dashes. The poem is also notable for its use of repetition, with certain phrases and images returning throughout the poem, such as the phrase "I would have liked to do" and the image of bones.

Analysis of the Poem

One of the central themes of Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do is the idea of memory and how it shapes our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. The poem is full of images and memories that are jumbled together, with no clear chronological order or logical progression. This reflects the way that memories often work, with different moments and experiences blending together in our minds.

The image of bones is also significant in the poem, as it suggests a kind of underlying structure or order that the speaker is trying to uncover. The act of collating bones could be seen as a way of organizing and making sense of the chaotic jumble of memories and experiences that make up a life. The bones also suggest the idea of mortality and the fact that all of us will eventually be reduced to a pile of bones.

Another important theme in the poem is the idea of regret and the sense of missed opportunities. The phrase "I would have liked to do" is repeated throughout the poem, conveying a sense of longing and unfulfilled desire. The speaker seems to be looking back on his life and reflecting on the things he wishes he had done or the person he wishes he had been.

The poem also contains a number of allusions to other works of literature and art. For example, the line "the bird's not in the egg" could be a reference to a line from T.S. Eliot's Four Quartets, in which he writes "the end is where we start from." The image of the toy soldiers may also be a reference to the novel A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway, in which the main character, Frederic Henry, reflects on playing with toy soldiers as a child.

Interpretation of the Poem

Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do is a complex and multilayered poem that can be interpreted in a number of different ways. At its core, the poem seems to be grappling with the fundamental questions of human existence: Who am I? What does it mean to be alive? What happens when we die?

The poem suggests that there is no easy answer to these questions, and that our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world is always evolving and changing. The image of the bones suggests a kind of underlying structure or order that we are always trying to uncover, but that ultimately remains elusive.

The poem also suggests that memory plays a central role in shaping our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. The jumbled, fragmented nature of the memories in the poem reflects the way that our own memories are often disordered and chaotic. But even in the midst of this chaos, the speaker is searching for some kind of order or meaning.

Finally, the poem suggests that there is a sense of regret and missed opportunities that is inherent in the human experience. The repetition of the phrase "I would have liked to do" conveys a sense of longing and unfulfilled desire, and the speaker seems to be looking back on his life and reflecting on the things he wishes he had done differently.

Conclusion

Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do is a powerful and haunting poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through its use of imagery, repetition, and fragmentation, the poem suggests that our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world is always evolving and changing, and that memory plays a central role in shaping our understanding of ourselves and our experiences.

At the same time, the poem also suggests that there is a sense of regret and missed opportunities that is inherent in the human experience, and that we are always searching for some kind of order or meaning in the midst of the chaos and confusion of our lives. Overall, Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do is a deeply moving and thought-provoking poem that invites us to reflect on our own lives and experiences, and to consider the ways in which memory, identity, and mortality shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do, written by John Berryman, is a classic poem that explores the themes of mortality, regret, and the human condition. In this 36-line poem, Berryman uses vivid imagery and a unique structure to convey his message.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his desire to "collate" bones, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for the process of piecing together the fragments of a life. The speaker then reflects on his own mortality, stating that he "would have liked to do" this task before he dies. This sense of urgency is reinforced by the repetition of the phrase "before I die" throughout the poem.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to reflect on his own life and the mistakes he has made. He describes himself as a "fool" and a "clown," suggesting that he has not taken life seriously enough. He also expresses regret for not having accomplished more in his life, stating that he "should have done more" and "should have been more."

The poem then takes a darker turn as the speaker reflects on death and the afterlife. He describes death as a "black hole" and wonders what will become of him after he dies. He also expresses a fear of being forgotten, stating that he does not want to be "lost in the shuffle" of history.

Despite these dark thoughts, the poem ends on a note of hope. The speaker acknowledges that he cannot change the past, but he can still make the most of the time he has left. He states that he will "try again" and "do better" in the future.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its structure. Berryman uses a unique form known as the Dream Song, which consists of three stanzas of six lines each. Each stanza is followed by a single line that repeats the first word of the stanza, creating a sense of circularity and repetition.

This structure reinforces the themes of the poem, particularly the idea of the speaker being trapped in a cycle of regret and mortality. The repetition of the phrase "before I die" also creates a sense of urgency and reinforces the idea that time is running out.

Another notable aspect of this poem is its use of imagery. Berryman uses vivid and often unsettling imagery to convey the speaker's emotions and thoughts. For example, the image of "collating bones" is both macabre and poignant, suggesting the fragility and impermanence of life.

Similarly, the image of death as a "black hole" is both terrifying and awe-inspiring, suggesting the vastness and mystery of the afterlife. These images create a sense of unease and uncertainty, reinforcing the poem's themes of mortality and the unknown.

In conclusion, Poetry Dream Song 30: Collating bones: I would have liked to do is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of mortality, regret, and the human condition. Through its unique structure and vivid imagery, the poem conveys a sense of urgency and uncertainty, while also offering a glimmer of hope for the future. This poem is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.

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