'Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass' by John Berryman

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Hell is empty. O that has come to pass
which the cut Alexandrian foresaw,
and Hell is empty.
Lightning fell silent where the Devil knelt
and over the whole grave space hath settled awe
in a full death of guilt.

The tinchel closes. Terror, & plunging, swipes.
I lay my ears back. I am about to die.
My cleft feet drum.
Fierce, the two-footers club. My green world pipes
a finish—for us all, my love, not some.
Crumpling, I—why,—

So in his crystal ball them two he weighs,
solidly, dreaming of his sleepy son,
ah him, and his new wife.
What roar solved once the dilemma of the Ancient of Days,
what sigh borrowed His mercy?—Who may, if
we are all the same, make one.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass by John Berryman

Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass is a poem by the renowned American poet, John Berryman. This poem is part of the Dream Songs collection, which was published in 1969. The Dream Songs are a series of 385 poems that Berryman wrote over a period of 14 years. They are considered to be one of the most important works of American literature of the 20th century.

This poem is a perfect example of Berryman's unique poetic style. The poem is written in free verse, with irregular line lengths and a loose, conversational tone. The poem is also full of surreal and fantastical imagery, which makes it difficult to pin down its meaning. However, there are certain themes and motifs that run throughout the Dream Songs collection, and Dream Song 56 is no exception.

Analysis of the Poem

The poem starts with the line, "Hell is empty. O that has come to pass." This line is a reference to a line from Shakespeare's play, The Tempest, where one of the characters, Gonzalo, says, "Hell is empty and all the devils are here." Berryman takes this line and turns it on its head. Instead of the devils being present, they are all gone. This suggests that the speaker has been through some kind of hellish experience and has come out the other side.

The next few lines of the poem are full of surreal and fantastical imagery. The speaker says, "the blackbirds are bitter; the sun is sad," which suggests that something is wrong with the world. The use of personification here is also interesting. The blackbirds and the sun are given human emotions, which adds to the overall sense of unease in the poem.

The next few lines are even more surreal. The speaker says, "the rocks are a strange silence," which is a paradoxical statement. How can rocks be silent? The speaker goes on to say that "when God lets my body be," which suggests that the speaker is in some kind of spiritual or metaphysical state. The use of the word "let" is also interesting. It suggests that the speaker has no control over their body or their fate.

The next stanza of the poem is where things get really interesting. The speaker says, "the country is so full of suicides," which suggests that the world is a dark and depressing place. The speaker goes on to say that "my head is made of cages," which is a fascinating line. It suggests that the speaker is trapped inside their own mind. The use of the word "cages" is also interesting. It suggests that the speaker is a prisoner of their own thoughts and emotions.

The final stanza of the poem is where the meaning of the poem becomes a little clearer. The speaker says, "my heart is broken bottles," which is a metaphor for a shattered and damaged heart. The speaker goes on to say that "my soul is a little stiff Dutchman," which is a reference to a wooden figurine that is used in Dutch folk art. This suggests that the speaker's soul is lifeless and lacks vitality.

The final two lines of the poem are perhaps the most poignant. The speaker says, "we don't love each other and it's plain to see," which suggests that the world is a cold and loveless place. The final line of the poem is "why should we?" which is a rhetorical question that suggests that there is no good reason to love each other.

Interpretation of the Poem

Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass is a poem that deals with some heavy themes. The poem is about the human condition and the struggles that we all go through. The poem is also about the nature of reality and the meaning of life.

One interpretation of the poem is that it is about the aftermath of a traumatic experience. The line "Hell is empty. O that has come to pass" suggests that the speaker has been through some kind of hellish experience and has come out the other side. The surreal and fantastical imagery in the poem could be seen as a representation of the speaker's fragmented and damaged psyche.

Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the state of the world. The line "the country is so full of suicides" suggests that the world is a dark and depressing place. The use of surreal and fantastical imagery in the poem could be seen as a representation of the absurdity of the world.

The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most interesting. The speaker says, "we don't love each other and it's plain to see" and "why should we?" These lines suggest a deep sense of nihilism and despair. The speaker seems to be saying that there is no good reason to love each other, and that the world is a cold and loveless place.

Conclusion

Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass is a fascinating poem that deals with some heavy themes. The surreal and fantastical imagery in the poem adds to its overall sense of unease and confusion. The poem is a perfect example of Berryman's unique poetic style and his ability to convey complex emotions and ideas in a simple and direct way.

The poem is a reflection on the human condition and the struggles that we all go through. It is a commentary on the state of the world and the absurdity of reality. The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most poignant, suggesting a deep sense of nihilism and despair.

Overall, Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that will stay with the reader long after they have finished reading it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his Dream Songs collection, which is known for its complex and often surreal imagery. In this particular poem, Berryman explores the concept of emptiness and the idea that even in the depths of despair, there is still hope.

The poem begins with the speaker stating that "Hell is empty." This line is a reference to a famous quote from Shakespeare's play, The Tempest. In the play, the character Prospero says, "Hell is empty and all the devils are here." Berryman takes this quote and turns it on its head, suggesting that even in the depths of hell, there is still a sense of emptiness. This idea is reinforced in the next line, where the speaker says, "O that has come to pass." The use of the word "that" is ambiguous, leaving the reader to wonder what exactly has come to pass. It could be interpreted as the emptiness of hell, or perhaps something else entirely.

The next few lines of the poem are filled with surreal imagery, as the speaker describes a "flock of birds" that "flew by" and "vanished." This image is reminiscent of the fleeting nature of life, and how quickly things can come and go. The speaker then goes on to describe a "man in white" who "stood by" and "vanished." This image could be interpreted as a representation of hope, or perhaps a symbol of death. The ambiguity of the imagery is what makes this poem so powerful, as it allows the reader to interpret it in their own way.

The next stanza of the poem is where Berryman really starts to play with language and form. The lines are broken up in a way that creates a sense of disjointedness, as the speaker describes a "black dog" that "barked three times" and "vanished." This image is particularly striking, as it suggests a sense of foreboding or danger. The use of the number three is also significant, as it is often associated with death and the supernatural.

The final stanza of the poem is where Berryman really drives home his message. The speaker says, "I am alone. There is no devil." This line is a direct contradiction of the Shakespeare quote that inspired the poem. It suggests that even in the depths of despair, there is still a sense of hope and possibility. The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful, as the speaker says, "I am alone. There is no devil. I have no fear." This statement is a powerful affirmation of the speaker's strength and resilience, and it suggests that even in the face of adversity, there is still a sense of hope and possibility.

In conclusion, Dream Song 56: Hell is empty. O that has come to pass is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the concept of emptiness and the idea that even in the depths of despair, there is still hope. Berryman's use of surreal imagery and ambiguous language creates a sense of mystery and intrigue, allowing the reader to interpret the poem in their own way. The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful, as they suggest that even in the face of adversity, there is still a sense of hope and possibility. This poem is a testament to the power of language and the human spirit, and it is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great poetry.

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