'Dream Song 171: Go, ill-sped book, and whisper to her or' by John Berryman
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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968Go, ill-sped book, and whisper to her orstorm out the message for her only earthat she is beautiful.Mention sunsets, be not silent of her eyesand mouth and other prospects, praise her size,say her figure is full.Say her small figure is heavenly & full,so as stunned Henry yatters like a fool& maketh little sense.Say she is soft in speech, stately in walking,modest at gatherings, and in every thingdeclare her excellence.And forget not, when the rest is wholly doneand all of her splendors opened, one by one,to add that she likes Henry,for reasons unknown, and fate has bound them fastone to another in linkages that lastand that are fair to see.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 171: Go, ill-sped book, and whisper to her
John Berryman's Dream Song 171 is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that explores the theme of unrequited love. The speaker in the poem is addressing a book that he has written, which he fears will not be well received by the woman he loves. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and poignant language that brings the speaker's feelings of love, regret, and longing to life.
Structure and form
The poem is written in the form of a Dream Song, which is a type of poem that Berryman created. Dream Songs are characterized by their use of a loose and improvised structure, with irregular stanzas and shifting narrative perspectives. Dream Song 171 follows this pattern, with short, fragmented stanzas that move fluidly between different voices and points of view.
The poem is divided into three sections. The first section consists of six stanzas, in which the speaker addresses the book and expresses his fears that it will not be well received by the woman he loves. The second section consists of four stanzas, in which the speaker reflects on his own feelings of love and longing, and the third section consists of two stanzas in which the speaker pleads with the book to "whisper" to the woman he loves.
Imagery and language
One of the most powerful aspects of Dream Song 171 is its use of vivid and evocative imagery. The poem is filled with striking images that bring the speaker's emotions to life. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes the book as "ill-sped" and "sluttish" and fears that it will "sink like a stone" when he gives it to the woman he loves. This image of the book sinking like a stone conveys the speaker's fear that his love will be rejected and forgotten.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses language that is both poetic and colloquial. He shifts between different registers of language, from formal and literary to slangy and conversational. For example, in the second stanza, the speaker describes himself as "a crazy son-of-a-bitch" who is "in love with Miss Death." This juxtaposition of poetic and colloquial language creates a sense of immediacy and emotional intensity.
Themes and interpretations
At its core, Dream Song 171 is a poem about unrequited love and the fear of rejection. The speaker is deeply in love with a woman who does not seem to reciprocate his feelings. He fears that his book, which is a kind of love letter to her, will be rejected and that his love will be forgotten.
The poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the nature of love and desire. The speaker's love for the woman is intense and all-consuming, but it is also unrequited and unfulfilled. He is caught in a kind of limbo, unable to move forward with his life or to let go of his feelings. This sense of emotional paralysis is captured brilliantly in the poem's final lines, in which the speaker implores the book to "whisper" to the woman he loves:
Speak to her, old bitter-tooth, and maybe we have won; time is short; and maybe she'll listen to me.
These lines convey a sense of desperation and urgency, as if the speaker is pleading with the book to somehow bridge the gap between him and the woman he loves.
Conclusion
Dream Song 171 is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that explores the theme of unrequited love. The speaker's fear of rejection and his desperate longing for love are conveyed through vivid imagery and poignant language. The poem can be interpreted in many different ways, but at its core, it is a meditation on the nature of love and desire and the complex emotions that come with them. Berryman's Dream Song 171 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman's "Dream Song 171: Go, ill-sped book, and whisper to her" is a classic poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. The poem is a part of Berryman's "Dream Songs" collection, which is known for its surreal and dreamlike quality. In this analysis, we will delve into the themes, structure, and literary devices used in the poem to understand its meaning and significance.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing a book, which he describes as "ill-sped." The book is a metaphor for the speaker's failed attempts to communicate his feelings to his beloved. He urges the book to "whisper to her," indicating his desire for the book to convey his message to the woman he loves. The use of the word "whisper" suggests a sense of secrecy and intimacy, as if the speaker is sharing a secret with the book.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the woman the speaker is addressing. She is described as "my dear," indicating a close relationship between the two. The speaker expresses his desire to be with her, stating that he wants to "lie down with her." This line is significant as it suggests a physical intimacy that the speaker longs for. However, the use of the word "lie down" also suggests a sense of surrender and vulnerability, as if the speaker is willing to give himself completely to the woman he loves.
The third stanza of the poem introduces a sense of regret and loss. The speaker states that he has "lost her," indicating that the woman he loves is no longer with him. He describes her as "gone," suggesting a sense of finality and permanence. The use of the word "gone" also suggests a sense of distance, as if the woman is no longer within the speaker's reach.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces a sense of hopelessness and despair. The speaker states that he is "alone," indicating that he is isolated and disconnected from the world around him. He describes himself as "a man," suggesting a sense of masculinity and strength. However, the use of the word "alone" suggests a sense of vulnerability and weakness, as if the speaker is struggling to cope with his emotions.
The fifth stanza of the poem introduces a sense of longing and desire. The speaker states that he wants to "see her," indicating his desire to be reunited with the woman he loves. He describes her as "my love," suggesting a deep emotional connection between the two. The use of the word "love" also suggests a sense of devotion and commitment, as if the speaker is willing to do anything to be with the woman he loves.
The sixth stanza of the poem introduces a sense of desperation and urgency. The speaker states that he wants to "touch her," indicating his desire for physical intimacy with the woman he loves. He describes her as "my life," suggesting that she is the most important thing in his life. The use of the word "life" also suggests a sense of vitality and energy, as if the woman is the source of the speaker's happiness and well-being.
The seventh stanza of the poem introduces a sense of resignation and acceptance. The speaker states that he knows he cannot be with the woman he loves, indicating a sense of finality and acceptance. He describes her as "my death," suggesting that his love for her is so strong that it consumes him completely. The use of the word "death" also suggests a sense of inevitability and finality, as if the speaker knows that his love for the woman will ultimately lead to his downfall.
The structure of the poem is significant as it reflects the speaker's emotional journey. The poem is divided into seven stanzas, each of which represents a different stage in the speaker's emotional journey. The first stanza introduces the book as a metaphor for the speaker's failed attempts to communicate his feelings. The second and third stanzas introduce the woman the speaker loves and his sense of loss and regret. The fourth stanza introduces a sense of hopelessness and despair, while the fifth and sixth stanzas introduce a sense of longing and desire. The final stanza introduces a sense of resignation and acceptance.
The poem also makes use of several literary devices to convey its meaning and significance. The use of metaphor is significant as it allows the speaker to convey complex emotions and ideas in a simple and concise manner. The book is a metaphor for the speaker's failed attempts to communicate his feelings, while the woman is a metaphor for the speaker's love and longing.
The use of repetition is also significant as it emphasizes the speaker's emotional journey. The repetition of the phrase "my dear" in the second stanza emphasizes the speaker's emotional connection to the woman he loves. The repetition of the phrase "I want" in the fifth and sixth stanzas emphasizes the speaker's sense of longing and desire.
In conclusion, John Berryman's "Dream Song 171: Go, ill-sped book, and whisper to her" is a classic poem that captures the essence of love, loss, and longing. The poem is a powerful exploration of the human experience, and its themes and literary devices continue to resonate with readers today. Through its use of metaphor, repetition, and structure, the poem conveys a sense of emotional depth and complexity that is both timeless and universal.
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