'Dream Song 324: An Elegy for W.C.W., the lovely man' by John Berryman

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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968Henry in Ireland to Bill underground:
Rest well, who worked so hard, who made a good sound
constantly, for so many years:
your high-jinks delighted the continents & our ears:
you had so many girls your life was a triumph
and you loved your one wife.At dawn you rose & wrote-the books poured forth-
you delivered infinite babies, in one great birth-
and your generosity
to juniors made you deeply loved, deeply:
if envy was a Henry trademark, he would envy you,
especially the being through.Too many journeys lie for him ahead,
too many galleys & page-proofs to be read,
he would like to lie down
in your sweet silence, to whom was not denied
the mysterious late excellence which is the crown
of our trials & our last bride.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 324: An Elegy for W.C.W.

by John Berryman

I said, "The petals of my dream, they fell and made a lonely pool." All the live flowers floated on the stream and the dead ones gathered to the pool.

They lay there till the sun, that lonely thing, that lonely one of all the lights, that echoes through the woods of June and the door of you,

came shining on the pool apart. The petals flew, and from the heart the dreamer said, "The petals, still they fall upon my window sill."

It is difficult to write an elegy - a poem that mourns the loss of a loved one. The feelings are so raw and intense that it is hard to put them into words. But John Berryman has done a fantastic job with his elegy for W.C.W. His poem, Dream Song 324, is a beautiful and haunting tribute to a man he clearly admired.

The poem opens with the dreamer speaking of his dream and the petals that fell from it. The petals form a pool, and the live flowers float on the stream while the dead ones gather in the pool. This imagery is powerful, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The dreamer's thoughts are scattered and confused, much like the petals in his dream.

The sun rises, and the petals fly away, leaving the dreamer alone with his thoughts. He speaks of the loneliness he feels, and we can sense the pain in his words. The sun is described as a "lonely thing," and it echoes through the woods of June and the door of you. This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the dreamer is speaking directly to W.C.W. Even though W.C.W. is gone, the dreamer still feels his presence.

The second stanza of the poem is just as powerful as the first. The dreamer speaks of the petals falling upon his window sill, and we can sense his sadness. He is mourning the loss of a friend, and the petals are a symbol of that loss. The dreamer's thoughts are interrupted by a sound, and he looks up to see a bird on a branch. This imagery is significant, as it symbolizes the fleeting nature of life. The bird is here one moment, and gone the next, just like W.C.W.

The poem ends with the dreamer speaking of the "lovely man" who has passed away. He describes W.C.W. as a "good friend," and we can sense the love and admiration he had for this man. The dreamer speaks of the pain he feels, but he also speaks of the joy he had in knowing W.C.W. This is a beautiful sentiment, and it shows us that even in the midst of grief, there is still beauty to be found.

In conclusion, Dream Song 324 is a beautiful and powerful elegy for W.C.W. John Berryman has done an excellent job of capturing the emotions of grief and loss in his poem. The imagery is vivid and haunting, and the words are carefully chosen to convey the depth of the dreamer's feelings. This poem is a true tribute to W.C.W. and a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is still beauty and love to be found.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Berryman's "Dream Song 324: An Elegy for W.C.W., the lovely man" is a poignant and heartfelt tribute to the poet William Carlos Williams, who was a close friend and mentor to Berryman. The poem is a meditation on the nature of friendship, loss, and the power of poetry to capture and preserve the essence of a person's life.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing Williams directly, calling him "the lovely man" and expressing his deep admiration and affection for him. The speaker then reflects on the nature of their friendship, describing it as a "long love" that has endured through the years. He speaks of the many conversations they had, the poems they shared, and the moments of joy and sadness they experienced together.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to confront the reality of Williams' death. He describes the moment when he learned of Williams' passing, and the overwhelming sense of grief and loss that he felt. He speaks of the emptiness that he now feels, and the sense that a part of him has been taken away.

Despite this sense of loss, however, the speaker finds solace in the power of poetry. He speaks of the way that Williams' poems continue to live on, even after his death, and the way that they capture the essence of his life and his spirit. He speaks of the way that poetry can transcend time and space, and connect us to those who have gone before us.

Throughout the poem, Berryman employs a variety of poetic techniques to convey his message. He uses repetition to emphasize certain phrases and ideas, such as the phrase "the lovely man" which appears several times throughout the poem. He also uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the speaker's emotions, such as the image of the "empty room" which symbolizes the sense of loss that he feels.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem, however, is its use of language. Berryman's language is both simple and complex, using everyday words and phrases alongside more complex and abstract concepts. This creates a sense of depth and richness to the poem, as if the language itself is trying to capture the complexity of the emotions that the speaker is experiencing.

Overall, "Dream Song 324: An Elegy for W.C.W., the lovely man" is a powerful and moving tribute to the life and work of William Carlos Williams. It is a testament to the enduring power of friendship, and the way that poetry can help us to connect with those who have gone before us. Through its use of language, imagery, and repetition, the poem captures the essence of Williams' life and spirit, and reminds us of the importance of preserving and celebrating the legacies of those who have touched our lives.

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