'Dream Song 16: Henry's pelt was put on sundry walls' by John Berryman

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77 Dream Songs1964Henry's pelt was put on sundry walls
where it did much resemble Henry and
them persons was delighted.
Especially his long & glowing tail
by all them was admired, and visitors.
They whistled: This is

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 16: Henry's pelt was put on sundry walls by John Berryman

Dream Song 16: Henry's pelt was put on sundry walls is a haunting and poignant work of poetry by John Berryman, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century. Written in the early 1960s, this poem is a part of a larger work called Dream Songs that Berryman wrote throughout his career. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze and explore the various themes, motifs, and symbols present in Dream Song 16, and discuss Berryman's use of language, structure, and imagery to convey his message.

Background Information and Context

Before diving into the poem itself, let's take a moment to understand the context in which it was written. John Berryman was an American poet and scholar, born in Oklahoma in 1914. He attended Columbia University, where he studied under the renowned poet W.H. Auden. Berryman's first collection of poetry, The Dispossessed, was published in 1948 and was well-received by critics.

Dream Songs, the collection in which Dream Song 16 appears, is a series of 385 poems that Berryman wrote over a period of 14 years. The poems are written in a unique form that Berryman himself called the "dream song." They are typically short and musical, with a loose rhyme scheme and a surrealistic style that is meant to evoke the disjointed, fragmented nature of dreams.

The Poem: Dream Song 16

Now, let's turn to the poem itself.

Henry's pelt was put on sundry walls where it did much resemble Henry and them persons was delighted much to see that Henry's pelt resembled Henry still.

And they was filled with tender admiration, and they was psalming praises to the skies, for they said, "Certainly he was a great man," and "surely singularity is a mark of genius,

and we're struck all of a heap with consternation to see one man's skin so like that man."

Now mind: I am not talking about Spirit. That's another matter. I am talking about my friends' bodies and souls and Henry's body and soul and (once) mine.

At first glance, Dream Song 16 appears to be a simple, straightforward poem about a man named Henry. We are told that Henry's "pelt" (skin) was put on walls and that people were amazed at how much it resembled him. They sing his praises and talk about how unique and talented he was.

However, as we dive deeper into the poem, we begin to see that there is much more going on beneath the surface. The poem is not just about Henry and his skin; it is about the complex relationships between people, the nature of identity, and the role of the artist in society.

Themes and Motifs

One of the most prominent themes in Dream Song 16 is the idea of identity. Berryman is exploring how we define ourselves and how others define us. The speaker notes that people were delighted to see Henry's skin because it resembled him so closely. This suggests that, for many people, our physical appearance is a crucial component of our identity. We are judged based on how we look and how closely we resemble our "true" selves.

At the same time, however, the speaker is quick to point out that he is not talking about spirit. He is not suggesting that our true selves are solely defined by our physical bodies. Instead, he seems to be arguing that our identity is a complex and multifaceted thing, made up of both our physical appearance and our inner selves.

Another important theme in Dream Song 16 is the nature of art and creativity. The speaker notes that people are amazed by Henry's skin because it is a mark of his singularity and genius. This suggests that, for many people, creativity and uniqueness are highly valued traits. Artists are often seen as special and different from the rest of society, and their work is celebrated precisely because it is so different from what others are doing.

However, the poem also suggests that there is a certain emptiness to this kind of admiration. The people who are singing Henry's praises are not really celebrating him as a person; they are celebrating his skin. They are fascinated by the idea of someone being so unique and different, but they are not necessarily interested in getting to know the real Henry.

Imagery and Language

One of the most striking things about Dream Song 16 is Berryman's use of imagery and language. He describes Henry's skin as a "pelt," which has connotations of both animalism and wearability. This suggests that our physical bodies are not just part of us; they are something that can be taken and used by others. By putting Henry's skin on walls, the people in the poem are essentially turning him into an object that can be admired and possessed.

Berryman also uses language in a highly musical and rhythmic way. The poem has a loose rhyme scheme, with the end words of each line often echoing each other. This gives the poem a lyrical quality that is meant to evoke the dreamlike quality of the dream song form.

Conclusion

Dream Song 16 is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores a number of important themes related to identity, creativity, and the nature of art. Berryman's use of imagery and language is highly effective in conveying his message, and the poem is both haunting and beautiful in its execution.

As we have seen, the poem is not just about Henry and his skin; it is about the ways in which we define ourselves and others, and the complex relationships between people that are often obscured by our physical appearances. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of looking beyond the surface and getting to know the real people around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Berryman’s Dream Song 16, “Henry’s pelt was put on sundry walls,” is a haunting and complex poem that explores themes of identity, mortality, and the human condition. Written in the form of a dream song, the poem is a surreal and fragmented narrative that follows the speaker’s journey through a series of vivid and often disturbing images.

At its core, Dream Song 16 is a meditation on the nature of selfhood and the ways in which we construct and deconstruct our identities over time. The poem’s central figure, Henry, is a stand-in for the speaker himself, and his “pelt” – his skin, his essence – is a symbol of the self that is both fragile and enduring.

The poem opens with the image of Henry’s pelt being “put on sundry walls,” a phrase that suggests both the violence of his death and the ways in which his identity has been fragmented and dispersed. The speaker describes Henry’s pelt as “a thing of beauty,” but also notes that it is “not easily distinguished from false products.” This ambiguity speaks to the difficulty of defining and maintaining a sense of self in a world that is constantly changing and uncertain.

Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the idea of mortality and the inevitability of death. He describes Henry’s pelt as “a reminder of those who choose not to remember,” a phrase that suggests the ways in which we try to forget or ignore the reality of our own mortality. The speaker also reflects on his own mortality, noting that “I am not a philosopher / and have intuitions terrible.” This line speaks to the fear and uncertainty that we all feel in the face of death, and the ways in which we try to make sense of our own mortality.

Dream Song 16 is also a deeply personal poem that explores the speaker’s own struggles with identity and selfhood. The poem is filled with references to the speaker’s own life, including his childhood (“I remember well the braided rug”), his relationships (“I have been Henry’s,” he says at one point), and his own sense of alienation and isolation (“I am alone & sick of it”). These personal details give the poem a sense of intimacy and immediacy, and help to ground the more abstract themes in the concrete reality of the speaker’s own experience.

One of the most striking aspects of Dream Song 16 is its use of language and imagery. The poem is filled with surreal and often disturbing images, such as the “blackish moss” that grows on Henry’s pelt, the “screaming babies” that haunt the speaker’s dreams, and the “sickening cry” that echoes through the poem. These images create a sense of unease and disorientation, and help to convey the speaker’s sense of alienation and despair.

At the same time, the poem is also filled with moments of beauty and tenderness. The speaker describes Henry’s pelt as “a thing of beauty,” and notes that “there is no life / outside it.” These lines suggest a deep connection between the speaker and Henry, and a sense of reverence for the fragility and beauty of life itself.

In terms of form, Dream Song 16 is a masterful example of Berryman’s use of the dream song form. The poem is composed of three stanzas, each of which contains six lines. The lines are often fragmented and disjointed, with abrupt shifts in tone and imagery. This fragmentation creates a sense of disorientation and uncertainty, and helps to convey the dreamlike quality of the poem.

Overall, Dream Song 16 is a powerful and haunting poem that explores some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Through its use of language, imagery, and form, the poem conveys a sense of the fragility and beauty of life, and the ways in which we construct and deconstruct our identities over time. It is a testament to Berryman’s skill as a poet, and a reminder of the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience.

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