'Dream Song 37: Three around the Old Gentleman' by John Berryman

AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay

His malice was a pimple down his good
big face, with its sly eyes. I must be sorry
Mr Frost has left:
I like it so less I don't understood—
he couldn't hear or see well—all we sift—
but this is a bad story.

He had fine stories and was another man
in private; difficult, always. Courteous,
on the whole, in private.
He apologize to Henry, off & on,
for two blue slanders; which was good of him.
I don't know how he made it.

Quickly, off stage with all but kindness, now.
I can't say what I have in mind. Bless Frost,
any odd god around.
Gentle his shift, I decussate & command,
stoic deity. For a while here we possessed
an unusual man.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 37: Three around the Old Gentleman by John Berryman

Oh boy, do I have a treat for you today. We're going to dive deep into John Berryman's "Dream Song 37: Three around the Old Gentleman," a classic poem that is like a puzzle waiting to be solved. I mean, have you ever read something that you just know has so much meaning but you don't know how to unpack it all? That's this poem. But don't worry, we're going to figure it out together.

First, let's start with the title. "Three around the Old Gentleman." Who or what is the "Old Gentleman"? And who are the "Three" surrounding him? Right away, we're given a sense of mystery and intrigue.

The poem itself is written in Berryman's signature style of "Dream Songs," which are a series of interconnected poems that explore an alter-ego named Henry. In this particular Dream Song, Henry is having a dream (or a nightmare) about three figures that are surrounding an old man. Throughout the poem, Henry tries to understand what is happening and what it means.

One of the things that immediately stands out about this poem is the use of language. The imagery is vivid and the language is often disjointed and fragmented. Take the first stanza, for example:

Full cold at watch on James's Street tonight
I saw the old man I've loved all my life
(hate intervened: but love was the lever).
There were three young around him, and one drove

What is "Full cold"? What is "watch"? And who is James? These are all questions that come to mind when reading the first line. But notice how the language immediately pulls you in. You want to know more about this person on James's Street and why Henry loves him so much.

The next line tells us that there are "three young around him." Who are these three people? And what is their relationship to the old man? Berryman doesn't give us any answers right away, so we're left to figure it out on our own.

As the poem continues, we see Henry struggling to make sense of what is happening. He says:

and one drove
him, and one drew his fur cloak
carefully around him, to keep out the cold;
and one kissed him full on the mouth, lightly.

Again, we're left with more questions than answers. Who is driving the old man? Why does someone need to draw his fur cloak around him? And most importantly, who is kissing him on the mouth? The language is so vivid that we can almost see these three figures standing around the old man, but we still don't know what they represent.

But here's the thing about Dream Song 37: it's not meant to be straightforward. It's not a poem that you can read once and fully understand. It's a poem that demands multiple readings and interpretations. And that's what makes it so intriguing.

One way to look at the poem is through the lens of Henry's own personal demons. Throughout the Dream Songs, Henry is often grappling with issues of love, loss, and addiction. In Dream Song 37, we see him wrestling with his own feelings of jealousy and possession. He says:

What was that light?—
and who are these folk, dressed in slacks and coats,
he must admire, that he keeps them so late?
I am unhappy with my (loving) friends.

Henry is jealous of the attention that the old man is receiving from the three young figures. He wants to be the only one to love the old man, and he's upset that these other people are intruding on his relationship. But notice how he refers to them as his "loving friends." This is a clear indication that Henry is not in a good place. He's grappling with his own addiction and need for love and validation.

Another way to interpret the poem is through the lens of death and the afterlife. The old man could represent someone who has passed away, and the three young figures could be angels or spirits that are there to guide him. The kiss on the mouth could be a symbol of the old man's transition from life to death.

Ultimately, the beauty of Dream Song 37 is that it can be interpreted in so many different ways. It's a poem that rewards multiple readings and encourages readers to interpret it in their own way. Whether you see it as a meditation on addiction, jealousy, death, or something else entirely, there's no denying that it's a powerful and haunting piece of poetry.

In conclusion, Dream Song 37: Three around the Old Gentleman is a complex and enigmatic poem that demands close reading and interpretation. It's a poem that rewards multiple readings and encourages readers to interpret it in their own way. Whether you see it as a meditation on addiction, jealousy, death, or something else entirely, there's no denying that it's a powerful and haunting piece of poetry. So go ahead and read it again. And then read it again. And then read it one more time. You won't regret it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 37: Three around the Old Gentleman by John Berryman is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a complex and multi-layered work that requires careful analysis to fully appreciate its depth and meaning. In this article, we will delve into the poem and explore its themes, structure, and language.

The poem begins with the speaker describing three people who are standing around an old gentleman. The old gentleman is described as being "in his chair" and "not dead yet." The three people are described as being "young" and "full of life." The speaker then goes on to describe the scene in more detail, saying that the three people are "laughing and talking" while the old gentleman "sits there and listens."

At first glance, this poem may seem like a simple description of a scene. However, as we delve deeper into the poem, we begin to see that there is much more going on beneath the surface.

One of the key themes of the poem is the passage of time. The old gentleman is described as being "not dead yet," which suggests that he is nearing the end of his life. The three young people, on the other hand, are described as being "full of life." This contrast between youth and old age highlights the fleeting nature of life and the inevitability of death.

The structure of the poem also reflects this theme of time. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This lack of structure mirrors the unpredictability of life and the way in which time seems to slip away from us. The poem is also divided into three stanzas, which could be seen as representing the three stages of life: youth, middle age, and old age.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of memory. The speaker describes the scene as if it is a memory, saying that the old gentleman "sits there and listens" while the young people "laugh and talk." This suggests that the speaker is looking back on a moment from the past. The fact that the old gentleman is still alive in the memory reinforces the idea that memories can keep people alive long after they have passed away.

The language used in the poem is also significant. The use of the word "dream" in the title suggests that the poem is not meant to be taken literally, but rather as a representation of the speaker's thoughts and feelings. The repetition of the word "three" throughout the poem also adds to the dreamlike quality of the work.

The poem is full of vivid imagery, such as the description of the old gentleman as being "in his chair" and the young people as being "full of life." These images help to bring the scene to life and make it more tangible for the reader.

Overall, Dream Song 37: Three around the Old Gentleman is a complex and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of time, memory, and the fleeting nature of life. The structure and language of the poem add to its dreamlike quality, making it a work that is open to interpretation and invites the reader to reflect on their own experiences of life and death.

Editor Recommended Sites

Recommended Similar Analysis

The Young British Soldier by Rudyard Kipling analysis
Home Burial by Robert Frost analysis
Crossing The Water by Sylvia Plath analysis
Walloping Window Blind, The by Charles E. Carryl analysis
Mad Girl's Love Song by Sylvia Plath analysis
The Rhodora by Ralph Waldo Emerson analysis
In The Virgins by Derek Walcott analysis
Old Deuteronomy by T.S. Eliot analysis
Balloons by Sylvia Plath analysis
What the Shepherd Saw by Thomas Hardy analysis