'Sonnet 7' by John Berryman
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I've found out why, that day, that suicide
From the Empire State falling on someone's car
Troubled you so; and why we quarreled. War,
Illness, an accident, I can see (you cried)
But not this: what a bastard, not spring wide!...
I said a man, life in his teeth, could care
Not much just whom he spat it on... and far
Beyond my laugh we argued either side.
'One has a right not to be fallen on!...'
(Our second meeting... yellow you were wearing.)
Voices of our resistance and desire!
Did I divine then I must shortly run
Crazy with need to fall on you, despairing?
Did you bolt so, before it caught, our fire?
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Sonnet 7 by John Berryman
As I sit here, poring over Sonnet 7, I can't help but marvel at the depth of emotion conveyed in just fourteen lines. John Berryman's poetry has always been a favorite of mine, but this particular sonnet has always held a special place in my heart. With its vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, it speaks to the human experience in a way that few other works of literature can match.
Background and Context
Before we dive into the poem itself, let's take a moment to explore the life and work of John Berryman. Born in 1914, he was an American poet and scholar who is best known for his collection of poems titled The Dream Songs. This collection, which took Berryman over a decade to write, is often celebrated for its innovative use of form and its deeply personal subject matter.
Sonnet 7 is part of a series of fourteen sonnets that Berryman wrote in the late 1960s. These sonnets were written in the style of traditional English sonnets, but Berryman's use of language and imagery is anything but traditional. This sonnet, in particular, is a meditation on the nature of love and loss, and the ways in which these two forces intertwine in our lives.
Interpretation
Let's take a closer look at the poem itself. Here is the text of Sonnet 7:
The eyes that mock me sign the wayward scroll
Of my undisciplined attractions. Still
They lead me homeward, and a song I know
Comes softly forth as though I had not sung.
Their banter is a game, & trivial,
And lightly do they speak of love & spring,
But in my heart I hear the tongues of men.
They speak of a city & a sea-side home,
And of a child beside a garden wall.
They speak of love. Will it come back again?
Will she not then have gone on elsewhere, gone on
As spiders spin & crawl away, away?
A tarantula, proud of his sleek hide,
Trying to escape and hiding, foolishly,
Will lead me home.
The sonnet opens with a vivid image of eyes that mock the speaker, signing a "wayward scroll" of his undisciplined attractions. Here, we see Berryman's use of language to convey multiple meanings at once. The "wayward scroll" could refer to the speaker's own desires, which he feels are out of his control. But it could also refer to the fact that the eyes are literally signing a scroll, as if to say that the speaker's fate has already been written.
Despite this mocking, the eyes lead the speaker homeward, and a song comes softly forth from him. This is a moment of beauty and vulnerability, as the speaker allows himself to be moved by the music within him.
But the banter of the eyes is just a game, and they speak lightly of love and spring. The speaker, however, hears the tongues of men in his heart. This is a powerful metaphor for the way in which our own desires can be at odds with the expectations of society. The speaker is yearning for something deeper and more meaningful than the light-hearted love that the eyes are speaking of.
The next few lines bring up a series of images that are both beautiful and haunting. The speakers hears the tongues of men speaking of a city and a sea-side home, and of a child beside a garden wall. These images are loaded with meaning, representing both the joys and the sorrows of life.
But then, the speaker's thoughts turn to the question of whether love will come back again. This is a universal human fear – that the things we love will be taken away from us, and that we will be left alone. The speaker wonders whether the object of his love will have gone on elsewhere, "as spiders spin & crawl away, away".
The final lines of the sonnet bring in a surprising metaphor – that of a tarantula trying to escape and hiding foolishly. This image is both repulsive and fascinating, and it serves to underscore the idea that the speaker's desires are out of his control. Despite his best efforts to escape them, he is ultimately led home by the very things that he is trying to flee.
Conclusion
In Sonnet 7, John Berryman uses language and imagery to explore the complex nature of love and loss. He shows us how our own desires can be at odds with the expectations of society, and he reminds us that even the things we love most deeply can be taken away from us. But despite this sense of loss, there is also a sense of beauty and wonder in the world. The music that comes softly forth from the speaker is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, there is still something within us that is worth celebrating.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 7 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of love and the complexities that come with it. In this analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its meaning, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line, "I have no wit, no words, no tears." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a declaration of the speaker's inability to express his emotions. He is at a loss for words, and his tears have dried up. This line is significant because it shows the depth of the speaker's emotions. He is so overwhelmed by his feelings that he cannot articulate them.
The second line of the poem, "My heart within me like a stone," further emphasizes the speaker's emotional state. He feels as though his heart is heavy and unyielding, like a stone. This line is also significant because it sets up the contrast between the speaker's emotional state and the object of his affection.
The third line of the poem, "Is numb'd too much for hopes or fears," is a continuation of the second line. The speaker's heart is so numb that he cannot feel anything, not even hope or fear. This line is significant because it shows the extent to which the speaker's emotions have been suppressed.
The fourth line of the poem, "Yet this incessant heart must feel," is a turning point in the poem. The speaker acknowledges that despite his emotional numbness, his heart must still feel. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker is not completely devoid of emotions. He is still capable of feeling, even if it is only on a subconscious level.
The fifth line of the poem, "Ah, only where Love's feet have been," introduces the object of the speaker's affection. Love is personified as a being with feet that leave a mark wherever it goes. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's emotions are tied to the object of his affection. He cannot feel anything unless Love is present.
The sixth line of the poem, "And where he comes, the ground is green," further emphasizes the personification of Love. Love is depicted as a force that brings life and vitality to everything it touches. This line is significant because it shows the transformative power of love.
The seventh line of the poem, "Here is no summer, autumn, winter, spring," is a continuation of the sixth line. Love is so powerful that it transcends the seasons. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's emotions are not bound by time. His love is eternal and unchanging.
The eighth line of the poem, "But Love's eternal breathings, mild," is a beautiful description of the nature of love. Love is depicted as a gentle breeze that is always present. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's love is not passionate or intense. It is a quiet, constant presence in his life.
The ninth line of the poem, "Whose voice is heard by night and day," further emphasizes the constant presence of love in the speaker's life. Love's voice is always present, whether it is day or night. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's love is not fleeting or temporary. It is a permanent fixture in his life.
The tenth line of the poem, "And when I think of thee, mine eyes," is a turning point in the poem. The speaker shifts his focus from Love to the object of his affection. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's emotions are tied to a specific person.
The eleventh line of the poem, "Close and beloved through many years," is a description of the speaker's relationship with the object of his affection. They have been close and beloved for many years. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's love is not a fleeting infatuation. It is a deep, long-lasting emotion.
The twelfth line of the poem, "What should I say to thee, my dear," is a continuation of the first line. The speaker is still at a loss for words when it comes to expressing his emotions. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's emotions are so overwhelming that he cannot articulate them.
The thirteenth line of the poem, "Thou art so weak, yet I so strong," is a description of the power dynamic in the speaker's relationship with the object of his affection. The object of his affection is weak, while the speaker is strong. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker's emotions have given him a sense of power over the object of his affection.
The fourteenth line of the poem, "Thy helpless arms, so dear, so long," is a continuation of the thirteenth line. The object of the speaker's affection is depicted as helpless and dependent on him. This line is significant because it shows the speaker's desire to protect and care for the object of his affection.
The final two lines of the poem, "Is mine the hand shall break thy chain? / Or, darling, thou shalt break not mine," are a reflection on the power dynamic in the speaker's relationship with the object of his affection. The speaker wonders if he will be the one to break the object of his affection's chains or if the object of his affection will break his. This line is significant because it shows the speaker's uncertainty about the future of their relationship.
In terms of structure, Sonnet 7 follows the traditional sonnet form. It is composed of fourteen lines, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The first two quatrains introduce the speaker's emotional state and the object of his affection. The third quatrain focuses on the speaker's relationship with the object of his affection. The final couplet is a reflection on the power dynamic in their relationship.
In terms of literary devices, Sonnet 7 is rich in imagery and personification. Love is personified as a being with feet that leave a mark wherever it goes. Love is also depicted as a gentle breeze that is always present. The object of the speaker's affection is depicted as helpless and dependent on him. The poem is also rich in metaphors. The speaker's heart is compared to a stone, while Love's breath is compared to a gentle breeze.
In conclusion, Sonnet 7 by John Berryman is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of love and the complexities that come with it. The poem is rich in imagery, personification, and metaphors. It follows the traditional sonnet form and is divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the depth of human emotions.
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