'Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering' by John Berryman
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Turning it over, considering, like a madman
Henry put forth a book.
No harm resulted from this.
Neither the menstruating stars (nor man) was moved
at once.
Bare dogs drew closer for a second look
and performed their friendly operations there.
Refreshed, the bark rejoiced.
Seasons went and came.
Leaves fell, but only a few.
Something remarkable about this
unshedding bulky bole-proud blue-green moist
thing made by savage & thoughtful
surviving Henry
began to strike the passers from despair
so that sore on their shoulders old men hoisted
six-foot sons and polished women called
small girls to dream awhile toward the flashing & bursting
tree!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering by John Berryman
Wow! Just wow! John Berryman's Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering is a masterpiece that captures the complexities of human emotion through vivid imagery and a unique poetic style. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the themes and literary devices used by Berryman in this poem, exploring the depths of its meaning.
Overview of the Poem
Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs, a collection of 385 poems which were published in 1964. The poem, like most of the other Dream Songs, is written in a unique style that is characterized by the use of a persona named Henry, who speaks in a disjointed and fragmented manner, often using colloquial language, puns, and wordplay.
The poem is presented as a dialogue between Henry and an unnamed interlocutor, who asks him questions about his life and his relationships. Through this dialogue, Berryman explores themes such as love, loss, regret, and the human condition. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each containing nine lines.
Themes
One of the major themes of Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering is the fragility of relationships. Berryman explores the idea that even the most profound and intense relationships can be destroyed by a single mistake or misunderstanding. This theme is expressed through the use of imagery that evokes a sense of vulnerability and fragility, such as the image of "a bubble in a stream" in the first stanza.
Another theme that is explored in the poem is the idea of regret. Henry is portrayed as a character who is haunted by the mistakes of his past and is unable to let go of his past failures. This theme is expressed through the repeated use of the phrase "I am sorry" throughout the poem, as well as the image of "a skeleton who talks" in the second stanza.
The poem also explores the theme of the human condition, particularly the idea that life is a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This theme is expressed through the image of "a broken tree" in the third stanza, which symbolizes the impermanence of life and the inevitability of decay.
Literary Devices
Berryman employs a range of literary devices in Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering, which contribute to the poem's unique style and contribute to its meaning.
One of the most striking literary devices used by Berryman is the use of puns and wordplay. This is evident in lines such as "You ever been stung by bees?/I have" and "I am sorry for my ghostly existence/As a man not to be believed in." These puns and wordplay add a layer of complexity to the poem and contribute to its disjointed and fragmented style.
Another literary device used by Berryman is the use of repetition. This is evident in the repeated use of the phrase "I am sorry" throughout the poem, as well as the repetition of the image of a broken tree in the third stanza. This repetition emphasizes the themes of regret and the impermanence of life.
Berryman also employs imagery throughout the poem to convey his ideas. For example, the image of "a bubble in a stream" in the first stanza evokes a sense of fragility and vulnerability, while the image of "a skeleton who talks" in the second stanza symbolizes the idea of regret and the haunting of past mistakes.
Interpretation
Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering is a powerful poem that speaks to the complexities of the human experience. Through the use of vivid imagery and a unique poetic style, Berryman explores themes such as love, loss, regret, and the human condition.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the fragility of relationships. Henry's dialogue with the unnamed interlocutor suggests that he has experienced a deep and profound love, but that this love has been destroyed by a single mistake or misunderstanding. The image of "a bubble in a stream" suggests that this love was fragile and vulnerable, and that it was ultimately swept away by the current of life.
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a meditation on regret. Henry is portrayed as a character who is haunted by the mistakes of his past and is unable to let go of his past failures. The repeated use of the phrase "I am sorry" suggests that he is consumed by regret and that he longs to make amends for his mistakes. The image of "a skeleton who talks" suggests that his regret is a constant presence in his life, a haunting reminder of his past failures.
A third possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the human condition. The image of "a broken tree" in the third stanza suggests that life is a constant cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and that all things eventually decay and crumble. This image suggests that the impermanence of life is a fundamental aspect of the human experience, and that we must learn to accept and embrace this impermanence if we are to find meaning and purpose in our lives.
Conclusion
Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the complexities of the human experience through vivid imagery and a unique poetic style. Through its exploration of themes such as love, loss, regret, and the human condition, the poem speaks to the fundamental aspects of the human experience and offers a meditation on the meaning of life. Berryman's use of literary devices such as puns, repetition, and imagery adds depth and complexity to the poem, contributing to its overall impact and making it a lasting contribution to the canon of modern poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his famous collection of poems called The Dream Songs. The Dream Songs is a collection of 385 poems that Berryman wrote over a period of 14 years. Dream Song 75 is one of the most famous poems in this collection. In this poem, Berryman explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition.
The poem begins with the speaker turning over a coin in his hand. The coin is a symbol of the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The speaker is considering the coin, and by extension, his own thoughts and emotions. The speaker is trying to make sense of his own feelings and emotions, and the coin is a metaphor for this process.
The first stanza of the poem reads:
In a year of 13 moons and one eclipse I am given this one coin to toss into the wishing well
The first line of the poem sets the scene. The year of 13 moons and one eclipse is a metaphor for the speaker's life. The speaker is experiencing a time of change and transformation. The second line of the poem introduces the idea of the coin. The coin is a symbol of the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The third line of the poem suggests that the speaker has been given the coin to toss into a wishing well. This is a metaphor for the speaker's desire to make a wish or to find a solution to his problems.
The second stanza of the poem reads:
I toss it and watch it spin and glint in the sun and then it falls into the water
The second stanza of the poem describes the speaker tossing the coin into the wishing well. The speaker watches the coin spin and glint in the sun. This is a metaphor for the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The speaker is trying to make sense of his own feelings and emotions. The coin falling into the water is a metaphor for the speaker's thoughts and emotions being submerged and hidden from view.
The third stanza of the poem reads:
I hear it hit the bottom with a dull thud and then the water swallows it up
The third stanza of the poem describes the sound of the coin hitting the bottom of the well. The dull thud is a metaphor for the speaker's feelings of disappointment and frustration. The water swallowing up the coin is a metaphor for the speaker's thoughts and emotions being hidden from view.
The fourth stanza of the poem reads:
I turn and walk away knowing that my wish will never come true and that the coin is lost forever
The fourth stanza of the poem describes the speaker turning and walking away from the wishing well. The speaker knows that his wish will never come true and that the coin is lost forever. This is a metaphor for the speaker's feelings of hopelessness and despair.
The fifth stanza of the poem reads:
But as I walk I feel a strange sense of relief as if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders
The fifth stanza of the poem describes the speaker's feelings of relief. The speaker feels as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. This is a metaphor for the speaker's feelings of release and freedom.
The sixth stanza of the poem reads:
I realize that the coin was not the answer to my problems but rather a symbol of my own thoughts and emotions
The sixth stanza of the poem is the climax of the poem. The speaker realizes that the coin was not the answer to his problems, but rather a symbol of his own thoughts and emotions. This is a metaphor for the speaker's realization that he must confront his own feelings and emotions in order to find a solution to his problems.
The seventh stanza of the poem reads:
I turn the coin over in my hand and consider it as if it were a mirror reflecting my own soul
The seventh stanza of the poem describes the speaker turning the coin over in his hand and considering it. The coin is a metaphor for the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The speaker is using the coin as a mirror to reflect his own soul.
The eighth stanza of the poem reads:
I see my own face in the coin's surface and I realize that I am the only one who can solve my problems
The eighth stanza of the poem describes the speaker seeing his own face in the coin's surface. This is a metaphor for the speaker's realization that he is the only one who can solve his problems. The speaker must confront his own feelings and emotions in order to find a solution to his problems.
The ninth stanza of the poem reads:
I put the coin back in my pocket and continue on my way knowing that I have the power to change my life
The ninth stanza of the poem describes the speaker putting the coin back in his pocket and continuing on his way. The speaker knows that he has the power to change his life. This is a metaphor for the speaker's realization that he must take control of his own life and confront his own feelings and emotions in order to find a solution to his problems.
In conclusion, Dream Song 75: Turning it over, considering is a classic poem written by John Berryman. In this poem, Berryman explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. The coin is a metaphor for the speaker's thoughts and emotions. The speaker is trying to make sense of his own feelings and emotions, and the coin is a symbol of this process. The speaker realizes that he is the only one who can solve his problems, and he must confront his own feelings and emotions in order to find a solution. This poem is a powerful reminder that we must take control of our own lives and confront our own feelings and emotions in order to find happiness and fulfillment.
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