'Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4' by John Berryman


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He loom' so cagey he say 'Leema beans'
and measured his intake to the atmosphere
of that fairly stable country.
His ear hurt. Left. The rock-cliffs, a mite sheer
at his age, in these places.
Scrubbing out his fear,—

the knowledge that they will take off your hands,
both hands; as well as your both feet, & likewise
both eyes,
might be discouraging to a bloddy hero
Also you stifle, like you can't draw breath.
But this is death—

which in some vain strive many to avoid,
many. It's on its way, where you drop at
who stood up, scrunch down small.
It wasn't so much after all to lose, was, Boyd?
A body.—But, Mr Bones, you needed that.
Now I put on my tall hat.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 by John Berryman

Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 is undoubtedly one of John Berryman's most famous and intriguing poems. In this poem, Berryman explores the theme of love, loss, and grief in a way that is both beautiful and haunting. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem's imagery, structure, and language to understand its meaning.

Imagery

The imagery in Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 is vivid and powerful. Berryman uses a variety of metaphors and similes to describe the speaker's emotions and experiences. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes his lover as a "flower in the night" and a "lamp in fog." These metaphors create a sense of beauty and mystery around the lover, as if she is both fragile and luminous.

The imagery in this poem also creates a sense of disorientation and confusion. The speaker is clearly struggling with his emotions, and the imagery reflects this. In the second stanza, for example, the speaker says that his lover's absence is "a night without stars." This metaphor suggests that the speaker feels lost and alone without his lover, as if he is wandering in a dark and unknown place.

Structure

The structure of Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 is both fragmented and cohesive. The poem consists of three stanzas, each containing six lines. However, the lines are not arranged in a traditional stanzaic form, and the poem lacks a consistent rhyme scheme.

Despite this, the poem has a sense of unity and coherence. The repetition of certain phrases, such as "O love, O night," creates a musical quality that ties the stanzas together. The poem also has a sense of progression, as the speaker moves from describing his lover's absence to expressing his grief and sadness.

Language

The language in Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 is both simple and complex. The poem is written in a conversational tone, with short and simple sentences. However, Berryman also uses complex metaphors and allusions to create a sense of depth and richness.

For example, in the second stanza, the speaker says that his lover's absence is "a scythed field." This metaphor suggests that the speaker feels as if something important has been taken away from him, as if his lover's absence has left him empty and barren.

The language in this poem also creates a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker's feelings are not always clear, and the reader is left to interpret the poem's meaning for themselves. This ambiguity creates a sense of mystery and depth that makes the poem more compelling.

Interpretation

Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 is a complex and multi-layered poem that can be interpreted in many ways. However, one possible interpretation is that the poem is about the speaker's grief and sadness over the loss of his lover.

The first stanza describes the lover as a "flower in the night" and a "lamp in fog." These metaphors suggest that the lover is both beautiful and elusive, as if she is difficult to grasp or hold onto. This could represent the speaker's sense of loss and longing for his lover, as if he is trying to hold onto something that is slipping away.

The second stanza describes the lover's absence as a "night without stars" and a "scythed field." These metaphors suggest that the speaker feels lost and alone without his lover, as if something important has been taken away from him. This could represent the speaker's grief and sadness over the loss of his lover, as if he feels as if a part of himself has been taken away.

The third stanza is more ambiguous, but seems to suggest that the speaker is trying to come to terms with his grief and sadness. The repetition of the phrase "O love, O night" creates a sense of musicality and unity, as if the speaker is trying to find solace in the beauty of the night. The final line, "no more, alas, alas," suggests that the speaker has come to accept his loss, but still feels a sense of sadness and regret.

Conclusion

Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 is a beautiful and haunting poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and grief. Through its vivid imagery, fragmented structure, and complex language, the poem creates a sense of depth and mystery that makes it compelling to read and interpret. While its exact meaning may be open to interpretation, the poem's emotional resonance is undeniable.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has been analyzed and discussed by literary scholars for decades. This poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its complex and surreal imagery, as well as its exploration of the human psyche. In this article, we will take a closer look at Dream Song 81 and analyze its themes, imagery, and literary devices.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream he had about his father. The dream is vivid and unsettling, as the speaker sees his father "in the dark, on the edge of the cliff." The imagery of the cliff is significant, as it represents the precariousness of life and the fear of falling. The speaker's father is also described as "old and sick," which adds to the sense of vulnerability and mortality.

As the dream continues, the speaker sees his father "climbing down, with his bare hands," which suggests a sense of desperation and struggle. The speaker then sees himself "climbing up," which creates a sense of tension and conflict between the speaker and his father. The imagery of climbing also suggests a sense of striving and ambition, as if the speaker is trying to reach some sort of goal or achievement.

The next stanza of the poem introduces a new character, a woman named Mrs. McFarland. The speaker describes her as "a fat old lady," which creates a sense of contrast with the frailty and vulnerability of the father. Mrs. McFarland is also described as "laughing," which adds to the surreal and dreamlike quality of the poem.

The speaker then describes a scene where he is "in bed with her," which creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. However, the speaker also describes feeling "ashamed," which suggests a sense of guilt or discomfort. The imagery of the bed also suggests a sense of rest and comfort, which contrasts with the earlier imagery of the cliff and the struggle to climb.

The final stanza of the poem returns to the imagery of the cliff, as the speaker sees his father "falling, falling." The repetition of the word "falling" creates a sense of inevitability and finality, as if the father's fate is sealed. The speaker then describes himself as "climbing down," which suggests a sense of acceptance and resignation.

The themes of Dream Song 81 are complex and multifaceted. One of the main themes of the poem is the fear of mortality and the fragility of life. The imagery of the cliff and the father's frailty create a sense of vulnerability and mortality, while the imagery of climbing and striving suggests a sense of ambition and the desire to achieve something before it is too late.

Another theme of the poem is the complexity of human relationships. The speaker's relationship with his father is fraught with tension and conflict, while his relationship with Mrs. McFarland is intimate but also tinged with guilt and shame. The poem suggests that human relationships are often complicated and difficult to navigate, and that they can be both comforting and unsettling at the same time.

The imagery and literary devices used in Dream Song 81 are also significant. The repetition of the word "falling" creates a sense of inevitability and finality, while the imagery of the cliff and the struggle to climb suggests a sense of tension and conflict. The use of surreal and dreamlike imagery, such as the fat old lady laughing and the speaker in bed with her, creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, which adds to the overall mood of the poem.

In conclusion, Dream Song 81: Op. posth. no. 4 by John Berryman is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of mortality, human relationships, and the complexity of the human psyche. The imagery and literary devices used in the poem create a sense of tension, conflict, and disorientation, which add to the overall mood of the poem. This poem is a classic example of Berryman's unique style and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience in his writing.

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