'Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices' by John Berryman
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77 Dream Songs1964Some good people, daring & subtle voices
and their tense faces, as I think of it
I see sank underground.
I see. My radar digs. I do not dig.
Cool their flushing blood, them eyes is shut-
eyes?Appalled: by all the dead: Henry brooded.
Without exception! All.
ALL.
The senior populationwaits. Come down! come down!
A ghastly & flashing pause, clothed,
life called; us do.In a madhouse heard I an ancient man
tube-fed who had not said for fifteen years
(they said) one canny word,
senile forever, who a heart might pierce,
mutter 'O come on down. O come on down.'
Clear whom
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices - John Berryman
Oh, Dream Song 21, how do I even begin to describe your brilliance? You are a masterpiece in every sense of the word, a perfect blend of humor and tragedy, of cynicism and hope. John Berryman, you have truly outdone yourself with this one.
At its core, Dream Song 21 is a poem about the search for meaning and purpose in life. The speaker, Henry, is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he is no longer young and full of potential. He feels lost and directionless, and he looks to the people around him for guidance.
But what makes this poem truly remarkable is the way that Berryman plays with language and form to convey the speaker's sense of disorientation and confusion. The poem is written in the form of a dream song, which means that it is meant to be read as if it were a dream. The language is disjointed and often nonsensical, with words and phrases repeated and rearranged in different ways.
Take, for example, the opening lines of the poem:
"Some good people, daring & subtle voices said, over to the bench, give me a cigarette"
The syntax here is deliberately confusing. Who are these "good people"? What does it mean for their voices to be "daring & subtle"? And why are they asking for a cigarette? These questions are not answered, and the reader is left to make sense of the lines on their own.
This sense of disorientation is further emphasized by the way that the poem moves from one image to the next without any clear transitions. One moment, the speaker is talking about the people around him; the next, he is reflecting on his own mortality:
"you can't beat death but you can beat death in life, sometimes"
It's as if the speaker's thoughts are jumping around from one idea to the next, without any clear pattern or logic. And yet, somehow, it all comes together to form a cohesive whole.
Another striking aspect of Dream Song 21 is the way that Berryman uses humor to undercut the poem's darker themes. For example, in the midst of Henry's existential crisis, he reflects on the fact that he has just eaten a "bad lunch". This moment of levity serves to relieve some of the tension in the poem, while also highlighting the absurdity of the human condition.
But even as Berryman is making us laugh, he is also forcing us to confront some uncomfortable truths. Henry may be a somewhat ridiculous figure, but he is also deeply human, with all the flaws and shortcomings that entails. And in the end, when he reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death, we are left with a sense of both sadness and awe.
In conclusion, Dream Song 21 is a truly remarkable poem, one that rewards careful reading and re-reading. It is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet, and to his ability to convey complex emotions in a way that is both playful and profound. As a reader, I feel privileged to have spent time with this poem, and I look forward to returning to it in the future, to discover new depths and nuances that I may have missed before.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman's "Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. The poem is part of Berryman's "Dream Songs" collection, which is known for its unique style and structure. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem to understand its significance and impact.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a group of people who are "daring & subtle voices." These people are "good" and have "a certain look." The speaker is drawn to them and wants to be part of their group. The language used in this opening stanza is simple and straightforward, but it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is in awe of these people and wants to be like them.
The second stanza is where the poem starts to become more complex. The speaker describes a woman who is part of the group. She is "a lady of rare beauty" and has "a voice like a bird." The speaker is drawn to her and wants to be close to her. However, he is also afraid of her. He describes her as "a witch" and says that she "could kill." This contrast between attraction and fear is a recurring theme in the poem.
The third stanza is where the poem takes a darker turn. The speaker describes a man who is part of the group. This man is "a killer" and has "a face like a mask." The speaker is afraid of him but is also drawn to him. He wants to be close to him but is also repulsed by him. The language used in this stanza is more violent and aggressive than in the previous stanzas. The contrast between attraction and repulsion is even more pronounced here.
The fourth stanza is where the poem reaches its climax. The speaker describes a scene where the woman and the man are together. They are "kissing & embracing" and the speaker is watching them. He is both attracted to them and repulsed by them. He wants to be part of their group but is also afraid of them. The language used in this stanza is more sensual and erotic than in the previous stanzas. The contrast between attraction and repulsion is at its strongest here.
The fifth and final stanza is where the poem resolves itself. The speaker realizes that he cannot be part of this group. He is not daring or subtle enough. He is not good enough. He is not like them. The language used in this stanza is more resigned and accepting than in the previous stanzas. The contrast between attraction and repulsion is still present, but it is less pronounced.
The structure of the poem is unique and complex. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. However, the poem does have a structure. Each stanza has a different tone and theme, and they build on each other to create a narrative. The first stanza sets the tone and introduces the group of people. The second and third stanzas introduce the woman and the man, respectively. The fourth stanza is the climax of the poem, and the fifth stanza resolves the narrative.
The language used in the poem is also unique and complex. Berryman uses a mix of simple and complex language to create a sense of contrast and tension. The simple language is used to describe the people and their actions, while the complex language is used to describe the speaker's emotions and thoughts. This contrast creates a sense of unease and tension that runs throughout the poem.
In conclusion, John Berryman's "Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. The poem explores themes of attraction and repulsion, fear and desire, and acceptance and resignation. The structure of the poem is unique and complex, and the language used is both simple and complex. The poem is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet and his ability to create a sense of tension and unease through his writing.
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