'Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks' by John Berryman
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Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks.
The architecture is far from reassuring.
I feel uneasy.
A pity,—the interview began so well:
I mentioned fiendish things, he waved them away
and sloshed out a martini
strangely needed. We spoke of indifferent matters—
God's health, the vague hell of the Congo,
John's energy,
anti-matter matter. I felt fine.
Then a change came backward. A chill fell.
Talk slackened,
died, and began to give me sideways looks.
'Chirst,' I thought 'what now?' and would have askt for another
but didn't dare.
I feel my application failing. It's growing dark,
some other sound is overcoming. His last words are:
'We betrayed me.'
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks
John Berryman's "Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks" is a poem that delves into the speaker's complex, fractured relationship with Peter, a character whose presence in the speaker's life is both comforting and unsettling. Through a series of fragmented, disjointed images and memories, the speaker explores the ways in which Peter's behavior has affected him, ultimately arriving at a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty about the nature of their connection. This 55th dream song is a prime example of Berryman's distinctive poetic style, characterized by its use of repetition, allusion, and oblique references to personal and cultural history.
The poem opens with a series of images that suggest a sense of unease and discomfort on the part of the speaker. In the first stanza, the speaker tells us that "Peter's not friendly," a statement that immediately establishes a sense of tension between the two characters. The speaker then goes on to describe how Peter "gives me sideways looks," a phrase that suggests a degree of suspicion or mistrust. The use of the word "sideways" is particularly significant here, as it connotes a sense of obliqueness or indirectness, as if Peter is not being entirely forthright with the speaker.
The second stanza then introduces a series of fragmented memories and associations, as the speaker attempts to make sense of his relationship with Peter. We learn that the two characters have known each other for a long time, and that Peter has been a constant presence in the speaker's life. The speaker describes how he and Peter "played at wars, at horses," suggesting a sense of childhood innocence and playfulness, but also hinting at a darker, more violent undercurrent.
The third stanza then introduces a series of allusions to personal and cultural history, as the speaker attempts to situate his relationship with Peter within a broader context. The image of "a hot summer day in 1939" is likely a reference to the outbreak of World War II, a moment of profound upheaval and uncertainty in global history. The mention of "the Dodgers in Ebbets Field, / Christ, they were tough," meanwhile, is a reference to the Brooklyn Dodgers, a professional baseball team known for their hard-nosed, blue-collar style of play. These allusions create a sense of nostalgia and longing, but also suggest a degree of unease and disorientation, as the speaker attempts to make sense of his place in a rapidly changing world.
The poem then takes a strange and surreal turn in its fourth stanza, as the speaker describes an encounter with a "blackhaired woman" who "asks questions." The woman's questions are never fully articulated, but the sense of discomfort and unease they create is palpable. The image of the woman's "black hair" is also significant, as it echoes the earlier description of Peter's "sideways looks," suggesting a sense of otherness or difference that the speaker is unable to fully comprehend.
The final stanza of the poem then returns to the theme of ambiguity and uncertainty, as the speaker admits that he is unsure about the nature of his relationship with Peter. The phrase "I don't know what he thinks" is repeated twice, creating a sense of frustration and unease. The poem ends with a final image of the two characters "riding along," suggesting a sense of movement and progression, but also hinting at the possibility of a deeper, more profound connection between them.
Overall, "Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks" is a complex and multifaceted poem that explores themes of ambiguity, uncertainty, and disorientation. Through its use of fragmented imagery, allusion, and oblique references to personal and cultural history, the poem creates a sense of unease and discomfort that is both haunting and compelling. While the precise nature of the speaker's relationship with Peter remains unclear, the poem ultimately suggests that there is a deeper, more profound connection between them that is rooted in a shared sense of history and experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks by John Berryman is a classic poem that delves into the complexities of human relationships. The poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs, a collection of 385 poems that explore the themes of love, loss, and identity. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker, Henry, describing his friend Peter as unfriendly. He says, "Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with a sense of unease and discomfort. The speaker's relationship with Peter is strained, and he feels that Peter is not treating him with the kindness and respect that he deserves.
The poem then goes on to describe a dream that the speaker had about Peter. In the dream, Peter is a "big black bird" that is "pecking at my eyes." This image is a powerful one, and it suggests that the speaker feels that Peter is attacking him in some way. The fact that Peter is portrayed as a bird is also significant, as it suggests that he is flighty and unpredictable.
The next stanza of the poem is particularly interesting, as it introduces the theme of identity. The speaker says, "I am Henry, and I am not Henry." This line suggests that the speaker is struggling with his own sense of self, and that he is not sure who he really is. This theme is explored further in the next stanza, where the speaker says, "I am the blue-ribbon winner in the dark." This line suggests that the speaker is proud of his own darkness, and that he sees it as a source of strength.
The poem then returns to the theme of Peter, with the speaker saying, "Peter, you are my enemy." This line is a powerful one, and it suggests that the speaker sees Peter as a threat to his own sense of self. The fact that Peter is portrayed as an enemy is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker feels that he is in a battle with Peter for control over his own identity.
The final stanza of the poem is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the speaker is struggling to come to terms with his own mortality. The speaker says, "I am dying, Peter. This is my last dream." This line suggests that the speaker is coming to the end of his life, and that he is struggling to make sense of his own mortality. The fact that this line is addressed directly to Peter is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker sees Peter as a key figure in his own life story.
In terms of structure, Dream Song 55 is a free verse poem that is divided into five stanzas. The poem is written in the first person, and it is filled with a sense of urgency and intensity. The use of repetition is also significant, as it reinforces the themes of identity and mortality that run throughout the poem.
In terms of literary devices, Dream Song 55 is filled with powerful imagery and metaphors. The use of the bird metaphor to describe Peter is particularly effective, as it suggests that he is flighty and unpredictable. The use of the blue-ribbon metaphor is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker sees his own darkness as a source of strength.
Overall, Dream Song 55: Peter's not friendly. He gives me sideways looks is a powerful and complex poem that explores the themes of identity, mortality, and human relationships. The poem is filled with powerful imagery and metaphors, and it is written in a style that is both urgent and intense. If you are interested in exploring the complexities of human relationships and the human condition, then this poem is definitely worth reading.
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