'Dream Song 132: A Small Dream' by John Berryman
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A Small Dream
It was only a small dream of the Golden World,
now you trot off to bed. I'll turn the machine off,
you've danced & trickt us enough.
Unintelligible whines & imprecations, hurled
from the second floor, fail to impress your mother
and I am the only other
and I say go to bed! We'll meet tomorrow,
acres of threats dissolve into a smile,
you'll be the Little Baby
again, while I pursue my path of sorrow
& bodies, bodies, to be carried a mile
& dropt. Maybe
if frozen slush will represent the soul
which is to represented in the hereafter
I ask for a decree
dooming my bitter enemies to laughter
advanced against them. If the dream was small
it was my dream also, Henry's.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 132: A Small Dream by John Berryman
Dream Song 132 is a thought-provoking, complex, and emotional poem written by John Berryman. The poem is part of Berryman's Dream Song sequence, which consists of 385 poems that he wrote over a period of 14 years. The poem is a small dream that Berryman had, and it explores themes such as death, love, and the human condition. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem, explore its themes, and interpret its meaning.
Analysis
The poem is written in free verse and has 20 lines. The poem is divided into two stanzas, each consisting of 10 lines. The first stanza describes the dream that Berryman had, while the second stanza explores the emotions that the dream evoked in him.
The first stanza of the poem describes a scene where Berryman is standing in a "dark room" with four other people. The room is not described in detail, but it is clear that it is a place of darkness and mystery. Berryman describes the four people as "fouled with love" and "dead among the dead." The use of the word "fouled" suggests that these people are corrupted or tainted in some way. The phrase "dead among the dead" reinforces the idea that the people in the room are not alive in the traditional sense.
The second stanza explores the emotions that the dream evokes in Berryman. He describes feeling "afraid" and "alone" in the dark room. He also feels a sense of "loss" and "grief" for the people in the room who are "dead among the dead." The final line of the poem, "to live in a dream is to live in a dream," suggests that the dream has a profound impact on Berryman and that he is struggling to come to terms with its meaning.
Themes
The poem explores several themes, including death, love, and the human condition.
Death
Death is a recurring theme in the poem. The people in the dark room are described as "dead among the dead," suggesting that they are beyond life and beyond hope. Berryman's feelings of loss and grief also suggest that death is a powerful force that can affect us deeply.
Love
Love is another theme in the poem, but it is a corrupted form of love. The people in the dark room are "fouled with love," suggesting that their love is tainted or corrupted in some way. This corrupted form of love is contrasted with the pure and uncorrupted love that Berryman feels for the people in the room.
The Human Condition
The poem explores the human condition, specifically our fear of death and our struggle to find meaning in life. Berryman's feelings of fear, loneliness, and loss suggest that he is struggling to come to terms with his mortality and the mortality of those around him.
Interpretation
Dream Song 132 is a complex poem that requires careful interpretation. The poem is a small dream that Berryman had, but it explores universal themes that are relevant to all of us.
At its core, the poem is about our fear of death and our struggle to find meaning in life. The people in the dark room are dead, but they are also "fouled with love." This suggests that they are trapped in a corrupted form of love that has prevented them from finding meaning in life. Berryman's feelings of fear, loneliness, and loss suggest that he is struggling to come to terms with his own mortality and the mortality of those around him.
The final line of the poem, "to live in a dream is to live in a dream," is a powerful statement about the human condition. It suggests that we are all living in a dream, and that the meaning of life is something that we have to create for ourselves. The dream that Berryman had is a metaphor for life itself, and the emotions that he felt in the dream are the emotions that we all feel as we struggle to find meaning in our lives.
Conclusion
Dream Song 132 is a powerful poem that explores universal themes such as death, love, and the human condition. The poem is a small dream that Berryman had, but it speaks to us on a deep and profound level. The poem's complex imagery and emotional depth make it a challenging but rewarding read. Overall, Dream Song 132 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that deserves to be studied and appreciated for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 132: A Small Dream by John Berryman is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. This poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its complex and surreal imagery. In this article, we will analyze and explain the meaning of Dream Song 132 and its significance in the literary world.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a small dream that he had. He dreams of a woman who he loves deeply, but who is now dead. The speaker is filled with grief and longing for this woman, and he wishes that he could be with her again. He describes her as "the one I loved the most," which shows the depth of his feelings for her.
The dream takes place in a garden, which is a common symbol of paradise or a place of peace and tranquility. The woman is sitting on a bench, and the speaker approaches her. He is hesitant at first, but then he sits down next to her. They talk for a while, and the speaker feels a sense of comfort and happiness being with her again.
However, the dream is short-lived, and the woman disappears. The speaker is left alone in the garden, feeling empty and alone once again. He longs to be with her again, but he knows that it is impossible. The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging the reality of his situation, saying "I woke up, and it was gone."
Dream Song 132 is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love and loss. The speaker's deep love for the woman is evident throughout the poem, and his grief at her loss is palpable. The dream is a manifestation of his desire to be with her again, but it also represents the impossibility of that desire. The woman is dead, and the speaker can never be with her again.
The garden in the dream is a symbol of paradise or a place of peace and tranquility. It represents the speaker's desire for a place where he can be with the woman he loves. However, the dream is short-lived, and the woman disappears. This represents the fleeting nature of happiness and the impermanence of life.
The poem is also significant for its use of language and imagery. Berryman's Dream Songs collection is known for its complex and surreal imagery, and Dream Song 132 is no exception. The use of the garden as a symbol of paradise is a common literary device, but Berryman's use of it is unique. The garden is described as "a small garden, square and cold," which creates a sense of unease and discomfort. This contrasts with the traditional image of a garden as a place of peace and tranquility.
The use of the word "gone" at the end of the poem is also significant. It is a simple word, but it carries a lot of weight. It represents the finality of the woman's death and the speaker's inability to be with her again. It also represents the impermanence of life and the fleeting nature of happiness.
In conclusion, Dream Song 132: A Small Dream by John Berryman is a powerful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. The speaker's deep love for the woman is evident throughout the poem, and his grief at her loss is palpable. The dream is a manifestation of his desire to be with her again, but it also represents the impossibility of that desire. The garden in the dream is a symbol of paradise or a place of peace and tranquility, but it is also a symbol of the impermanence of life. The poem is significant for its use of language and imagery, and it is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet.
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