'Dream Song 22: Of 1826' by John Berryman
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I am the little man who smokes & smokes.
I am the girl who does know better but.
I am the king of the pool.
I am so wise I had my mouth sewn shut.
I am a government official & a goddamned fool.
I am a lady who takes jokes.
I am the enemy of the mind.
I am the auto salesman and lóve you.
I am a teenage cancer, with a plan.
I am the blackt-out man.
I am the woman powerful as a zoo.
I am two eyes screwed to my set, whose blind—
It is the Fourth of July.
Collect: while the dying man,
forgone by you creator, who forgives,
is gasping 'Thomas Jefferson still lives'
in vain, in vain, in vain.
I am Henry Pussy-cat! My whiskers fly.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 22: Of 1826 by John Berryman
How does a writer depict the complexities of the human psyche? How can a poet capture the contradictions and paradoxes that make us human? These are the questions that John Berryman attempts to answer in his poem "Dream Song 22: Of 1826." In this piece, Berryman explores the themes of guilt, memory, and mortality in a way that is both haunting and beautiful.
Background
Before diving into the poem, it's important to understand a bit about John Berryman himself. Born in Oklahoma in 1914, Berryman was a poet, scholar, and professor. He wrote extensively about his personal struggles with alcoholism and depression, and these themes are often present in his poetry. Berryman was a major figure in the Confessional Poetry movement, a literary movement that focused on the personal experiences and emotions of the poet.
"Dream Song 22: Of 1826" was first published in Berryman's collection "77 Dream Songs" in 1964. The Dream Songs are a series of interconnected poems that explore the life and struggles of a character named Henry. While Henry is not explicitly named in "Dream Song 22," it is likely that he is the protagonist of this piece.
Summary
The poem begins with the line "He lay on the sofa, with his eyes closed," setting a somber and introspective tone. The speaker then describes the scene around the protagonist, including the "yellow air," the "guitar on the wall," and the "posters of Baudelaire and Poe." The speaker then shifts his focus to the protagonist's memories of a girl named Jane, who he met in 1826.
The protagonist remembers how he and Jane would walk along the beach and "discuss / what to do in life." However, the memory is tinged with guilt, as the protagonist admits to leaving Jane for "a lady / with Spanish eyes." The guilt of this decision is compounded by the fact that the protagonist's wife has since died, leaving him alone with his memories.
The poem then takes a surreal turn, as the speaker describes the protagonist's dream of Jane. In the dream, Jane has become a "fierce / falcon" that chases the protagonist off a cliff. The dream is both terrifying and cathartic, as the protagonist is forced to confront his guilt and face the consequences of his actions.
The poem ends with the protagonist waking up from his dream, still haunted by his memories and the weight of his guilt.
Analysis
At its core, "Dream Song 22: Of 1826" is a meditation on guilt and memory. The protagonist is haunted by the memory of Jane and his decision to leave her for another woman. This guilt is compounded by the fact that the protagonist's wife has since died, leaving him alone with his memories.
Berryman uses language and imagery to convey the complexities of the protagonist's emotions. The yellow air and the posters of Baudelaire and Poe create a sense of melancholy and introspection. The guitar on the wall represents the protagonist's lost youth and the music that once brought him joy.
The dream sequence is perhaps the most powerful and surreal part of the poem. Jane's transformation into a fierce falcon represents the protagonist's fear and guilt, as well as his longing for resolution. By confronting his guilt in the dream, the protagonist is able to begin the process of healing and moving on.
The final lines of the poem are particularly poignant. The protagonist wakes up from his dream, but the weight of his guilt and memories still linger. The line "He finished and drank it and slept" suggests that the protagonist is using alcohol to cope with his emotions, a theme that is present throughout much of Berryman's work.
Interpretation
"Dream Song 22: Of 1826" is a deeply personal and introspective poem that speaks to the human experience of guilt and memory. The protagonist's struggle to come to terms with his past decisions is something that many readers can relate to.
The surreal dream sequence is perhaps the most powerful part of the poem, as it allows the protagonist to confront his guilt and begin the process of healing. However, the final lines of the poem suggest that the protagonist is still struggling to come to terms with his emotions, and that he may be using alcohol to cope.
Overall, "Dream Song 22: Of 1826" is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the complexities of the human psyche. Berryman's use of language and imagery creates a sense of melancholy and introspection, while the protagonist's struggle with guilt and memory is something that many readers can relate to.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 22: Of 1826 is a classic poem written by John Berryman that has stood the test of time. This poem is a part of the Dream Songs collection, which is a series of 385 poems that Berryman wrote between 1955 and 1967. The Dream Songs are known for their complex structure, surreal imagery, and emotional depth. Dream Song 22: Of 1826 is no exception, and in this analysis, we will explore the poem's themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his friend, Henry, who is also the protagonist of the Dream Songs. The speaker tells Henry that he has been dreaming about him and that he saw him in a dream where he was "young and less fat." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is a reflection on the passage of time and the inevitability of aging.
The second stanza of the poem introduces a new character, Mr. Bones, who is a recurring character in the Dream Songs. Mr. Bones is a symbol of death and decay, and his presence in the poem reinforces the theme of mortality. The speaker describes Mr. Bones as "a man of some repute" and "a man of many hats," which suggests that he is a multifaceted character with many different roles.
The third stanza of the poem is where the structure of the Dream Songs becomes apparent. The poem is written in a form called the "blues stanza," which is a three-line stanza with a rhyme scheme of AAB. The first two lines of each stanza are written in iambic trimeter, while the third line is written in iambic tetrameter. This structure gives the poem a musical quality and reinforces the theme of the blues, which is a genre of music that often deals with themes of sadness and loss.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces another recurring character in the Dream Songs, the "black man." The black man is a symbol of racial tension and inequality, and his presence in the poem adds another layer of complexity to the themes of the poem. The speaker describes the black man as "a man of muscle and of hate" and suggests that he is a victim of the same forces that are causing Henry to age and decay.
The fifth stanza of the poem is where the emotional depth of the poem becomes apparent. The speaker reflects on his own mortality and suggests that he is afraid of death. He says, "I am afraid of needles,/pain, and death." This line is a powerful admission of vulnerability and reinforces the theme of mortality that runs throughout the poem.
The sixth stanza of the poem is where the surreal imagery of the Dream Songs becomes apparent. The speaker describes a scene where he is "in a room with no doors" and where "the walls are made of silk." This image is both beautiful and unsettling, and it reinforces the theme of the dreamlike quality of the Dream Songs.
The seventh stanza of the poem is where the structure of the Dream Songs becomes apparent again. The poem is written in a form called the "blues stanza," which is a three-line stanza with a rhyme scheme of AAB. The first two lines of each stanza are written in iambic trimeter, while the third line is written in iambic tetrameter. This structure gives the poem a musical quality and reinforces the theme of the blues, which is a genre of music that often deals with themes of sadness and loss.
The eighth stanza of the poem is where the theme of mortality becomes even more apparent. The speaker reflects on the fact that he is getting older and that he is "not the man I was." This line is a powerful admission of vulnerability and reinforces the theme of mortality that runs throughout the poem.
The ninth stanza of the poem is where the surreal imagery of the Dream Songs becomes apparent again. The speaker describes a scene where he is "in a field of snow" and where "the sun is hot." This image is both beautiful and unsettling, and it reinforces the theme of the dreamlike quality of the Dream Songs.
The tenth stanza of the poem is where the emotional depth of the poem becomes apparent again. The speaker reflects on the fact that he is "alone" and that he is "afraid." This line is a powerful admission of vulnerability and reinforces the theme of mortality that runs throughout the poem.
The eleventh stanza of the poem is where the structure of the Dream Songs becomes apparent again. The poem is written in a form called the "blues stanza," which is a three-line stanza with a rhyme scheme of AAB. The first two lines of each stanza are written in iambic trimeter, while the third line is written in iambic tetrameter. This structure gives the poem a musical quality and reinforces the theme of the blues, which is a genre of music that often deals with themes of sadness and loss.
The twelfth and final stanza of the poem is where the emotional depth of the poem reaches its climax. The speaker reflects on the fact that he is "afraid of everything" and that he is "afraid of nothing." This line is a powerful admission of vulnerability and reinforces the theme of mortality that runs throughout the poem. The speaker then reflects on the fact that he is "afraid of what I know" and that he is "afraid of what I do not know." This line is a powerful admission of the unknown and reinforces the theme of mortality that runs throughout the poem.
In conclusion, Dream Song 22: Of 1826 is a classic poem written by John Berryman that explores themes of mortality, aging, and the unknown. The poem's complex structure, surreal imagery, and emotional depth make it a powerful work of literature that has stood the test of time. The Dream Songs collection as a whole is a masterpiece of modern poetry, and Dream Song 22: Of 1826 is a shining example of Berryman's talent and skill as a poet.
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