'Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post' by John Berryman
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In a motion of night they massed nearer my post.
I hummed a short blues. When the stars went out
I studied my weapons system.
Grenades, the portable rack, the yellow spout
of the anthrax-ray: in order. Yes, and most
of my pencils were sharp.
This edge of the galaxy has often seen
a defence so stiff, but it could only go
one way.
—Mr Bones, your troubles give me vertigo,
& backache. Somehow, when I make your scene,
I cave to feel as if
de roses of dawns & pearls of dusks, made up
by some ol' writer-man, got right forgot
& the greennesses of ours.
Springwater grow so thick it gonna clot
and the pleasing ladies cease. I figure, yup,
you is bad powers.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post
by John Berryman
Have you ever found yourself waking up from a dream and wondering about the strange images that filled your subconscious? The bizarre and often inexplicable nature of dreams has fascinated poets and writers for centuries, and many have attempted to capture that elusive quality in their work. One such writer is John Berryman, whose Dream Songs explore the inner workings of the human psyche in a way that is both unsettling and captivating.
Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post is a prime example of Berryman's unique style. The poem is divided into three sections, each one delving deeper into the dream world and the fears and anxieties that lurk beneath the surface of our waking lives.
Section 1
The first section of the poem begins with a description of the speaker's surroundings. He is stationed at a post, and he can see "the tented fires flicker and glow" in the distance. The language here is evocative and atmospheric, creating a sense of mystery and tension.
As the poem progresses, however, the focus shifts from the external world to the speaker's internal thoughts and emotions. He muses on the idea of death, wondering "if death is what it seems / then are we all lost?" This is a common theme in Berryman's work, as he often grapples with the existential questions that haunt us all.
But it is the final lines of this section that really capture the reader's attention. The speaker sees "them come in a huge pack / to bury me in dung & hay." Who are these mysterious figures, and why are they gathering around him? The answer is not immediately clear, but the tone of the poem suggests that these are not friendly visitors.
Section 2
The second section of the poem is even more unsettling than the first. The speaker is now "sick with fear," and the imagery becomes increasingly surreal. He sees "deer-departed, gulf-gobblers, / suckers of strands of sea" approaching him. The language here is almost hallucinatory, as if the speaker is caught in the grip of a nightmare.
As the creatures draw nearer, the speaker becomes more and more panicked. He pleads for them to leave him alone, crying out "don't come, don't kill me." But his cries fall on deaf ears, and the creatures continue their advance.
Section 3
The final section of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic. The speaker seems to have come to some kind of realization, but it is not clear exactly what he has learned. He says that "at the last moment I jerked my gun up. / I could not have fired, but they did not know that." This suggests that the speaker was in some kind of danger, but he managed to scare off his attackers.
But who were these attackers? What did they represent? There are no easy answers to these questions, but the poem's final lines provide a clue. The speaker says that he "laughed at myself in the dark / & bitterness seized me." This suggests that the speaker's fears and anxieties are not simply external threats, but are rooted deep within his own psyche.
Interpretation
So what can we make of Dream Song 50? At its heart, the poem is a meditation on the nature of fear and anxiety. The speaker is caught in the grip of a nightmare, but it is not clear whether the threats he faces are external or internal. The various creatures that appear in the poem could be seen as manifestations of the speaker's deepest fears and anxieties, things that he must confront if he is to overcome them.
But the poem is not just about fear. It is also about the power of the imagination, and how it can shape our perceptions of the world around us. The speaker's surroundings are shrouded in darkness, and the creatures that approach him seem to emerge from the shadows themselves. This creates a sense of unreality, as if the speaker is trapped in a world of his own making.
Ultimately, Dream Song 50 is a deeply unsettling poem, one that challenges our perceptions of reality and forces us to confront our deepest fears. But it is also a work of great beauty and complexity, one that rewards close reading and careful consideration. If you're looking for a glimpse into the weird and wonderful world of dreams, then look no further than John Berryman's Dream Song 50.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his famous Dream Songs collection, which is known for its unique style and structure. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, symbols, and literary devices.
The poem starts with the speaker describing a group of people who are approaching his post. The use of the word "motion" suggests that these people are moving in a coordinated and deliberate manner. The word "night" adds a sense of mystery and darkness to the scene, creating a sense of foreboding.
As the group gets closer, the speaker becomes more aware of their presence. He describes them as "massed," which suggests that they are a large group. The use of the word "nearer" indicates that they are getting closer to the speaker's position, creating a sense of tension and unease.
The next line of the poem reads, "I hummed a song & catapulted them into space." This line is significant because it reveals the speaker's reaction to the approaching group. He hums a song, which suggests that he is trying to calm himself down or distract himself from the situation. The use of the word "catapulted" suggests that the speaker is trying to distance himself from the group, perhaps even trying to escape from them.
The next few lines of the poem are more difficult to interpret. The speaker describes the group as "a million soldiers & half their guns." This line is significant because it suggests that the group is armed and dangerous. The use of the word "soldiers" adds a sense of militarism to the scene, creating a sense of conflict and violence.
The next line reads, "I stared, unable to stir." This line is significant because it reveals the speaker's sense of helplessness in the face of the approaching group. He is unable to move or take action, suggesting that he is paralyzed by fear or uncertainty.
The final lines of the poem read, "Then I remembered: they were dream figures." This line is significant because it reveals the true nature of the group. They are not real people, but rather figments of the speaker's imagination. This realization brings a sense of relief and release to the poem, as the tension and unease of the earlier lines are resolved.
The themes of Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post are complex and multi-layered. One of the main themes of the poem is fear and uncertainty. The speaker is afraid of the approaching group, and he is uncertain about how to react to them. This fear and uncertainty create a sense of tension and unease throughout the poem.
Another theme of the poem is the power of the imagination. The group of people that the speaker sees is not real, but rather a product of his own mind. This suggests that our imaginations have the power to create both positive and negative experiences, and that we must be careful about how we use this power.
The poem also explores the theme of escape and release. The speaker tries to distance himself from the approaching group by humming a song and catapulting them into space. This suggests that he is trying to escape from his fears and anxieties. The realization that the group is not real brings a sense of release and relief to the poem, as the tension and unease of the earlier lines are resolved.
The symbols in Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post are also significant. The group of people that the speaker sees can be interpreted as a symbol of his fears and anxieties. The fact that they are armed and dangerous suggests that these fears and anxieties are powerful and potentially harmful.
The use of the word "night" is also significant, as it creates a sense of darkness and mystery. This darkness can be interpreted as a symbol of the unknown and the uncertain, which is a common source of fear and anxiety.
The use of the word "catapulted" is also significant, as it suggests a sense of force and power. This force can be interpreted as a symbol of the speaker's desire to overcome his fears and anxieties, and to escape from them.
The literary devices used in Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post are also significant. The use of repetition, such as the repetition of the word "motion," creates a sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem. This rhythm and momentum add to the sense of tension and unease that permeates the poem.
The use of imagery, such as the image of the group of people approaching the speaker's post, creates a vivid and memorable scene in the reader's mind. This imagery adds to the sense of fear and uncertainty that the poem evokes.
In conclusion, Dream Song 50: In a motion of night they massed nearer my post is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of fear, uncertainty, imagination, escape, and release. The symbols and literary devices used in the poem add depth and richness to its meaning, creating a powerful and memorable work of literature.
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