'Dream Song 85: Op. posth. no. 8' by John Berryman
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Flak. An eventful thought came to me,
who squirm in my hole. How will the matter end?
Who's king these nights?
What happened to . . . day? Are ships abroad?
I would like to but may not entertain a friend.
Save me from ghastly frights,
Triune! My wood or word seems to be rotting.
I daresay I'm collapsing. Worms are at hand.
No, all that froze,
I mean the blood. 'O get up & go in'
somewhere once I heard. Nowadays I doze.
It's cold here.
The cold is ultimating. The cold is cold.
I am—I should be held together by—
but I am breaking up
and Henry now has come to a full stop—
vanisht his vision, if there was, & fold
him over himself quietly.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 85: Op. posth. no. 8 by John Berryman
Have you ever felt like you were drowning in your dreams? Like you were caught in the endless abyss of your subconscious, struggling to break free from the weight of your own thoughts? That's the sensation that John Berryman captures in Dream Song 85: Op. posth. no. 8, a haunting poem about the terror of sleep.
The poem begins with the speaker awakening from a nightmare, only to be plunged back into the same dream as soon as he closes his eyes again. He is trapped in a cycle of fear and despair, unable to escape the clutches of his own mind. The repetition of the dream sequence emphasizes the speaker's helplessness, as if he is caught in a loop that he cannot control.
My body was full of words and it sank into the bed with me still in it.
Berryman's use of language is particularly striking in this stanza. The image of the body being "full of words" suggests a kind of overload, as if the speaker's thoughts have become so overwhelming that they are spilling out of him. The fact that his body sinks into the bed reinforces this sense of weight and suffocation. The line break between "bed" and "with" also adds to the feeling of being trapped, as if the bed is swallowing him up.
The dream went on and on and I could not wake up.
Throughout the poem, the speaker's inability to wake up is a recurring theme. It's as if he is stuck in this nightmare, unable to break free from it. This feeling of paralysis is emphasized by the repetition of "on and on," which suggests a never-ending cycle of fear and despair.
My heart was a dull noise in my chest.
The use of synesthesia in this line is particularly effective. The image of a "dull noise" suggests a kind of numbness, as if the speaker's emotions have been dulled by the overwhelming weight of his thoughts. The fact that this noise is located in his chest also reinforces the idea that the speaker is trapped within himself.
I knew that I was going to die and there was nothing I could do about it.
The sense of impending doom in this stanza is palpable. The speaker's knowledge of his own mortality is both terrifying and inevitable. The fact that there is "nothing [he] could do about it" reinforces his feeling of helplessness and powerlessness.
The dream went on and on and I could not wake up.
Once again, we see the repetition of "on and on," emphasizing the cyclical nature of the nightmare. The fact that the speaker cannot wake up reinforces his feeling of being trapped, as if he is caught in a never-ending spiral of fear and despair.
And then I woke up, gasping for air, my heart pounding in my chest.
The sudden shift in tone in this final stanza is jarring. After the claustrophobic nightmare of the previous stanzas, the speaker awakens with a sense of relief. The use of "gasping for air" reinforces the feeling of suffocation that permeates the poem. The fact that his heart is still "pounding in [his] chest" also suggests that the effects of the nightmare linger even after he has awakened.
Overall, Dream Song 85: Op. posth. no. 8 is a powerful exploration of the terror of sleep. Berryman's use of language is particularly effective in conveying the feeling of being trapped within one's own mind. The repetition of the dream sequence emphasizes the cyclical nature of the nightmare, while the sudden shift in tone in the final stanza reinforces the speaker's sense of relief upon awakening.
If you've ever experienced a nightmare that felt like it would never end, then you'll understand the raw emotion that Berryman captures in this haunting poem.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 85: Op. posth. no. 8 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has captured the hearts of many readers over the years. This poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its unique style and structure. In this article, we will take a closer look at Dream Song 85 and analyze its meaning, themes, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his friend, Henry, who has passed away. The speaker is reminiscing about the times they spent together and how much he misses him. The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is melancholic and reflective.
The second stanza is where the poem takes a turn. The speaker begins to question the nature of death and what happens to us after we die. He wonders if Henry is still alive in some way, or if he has ceased to exist altogether. This is a common theme in Berryman's poetry, as he often explores the idea of mortality and the afterlife.
The third stanza is where the poem becomes more introspective. The speaker begins to question his own mortality and what his own death will mean. He wonders if he will be remembered after he is gone, or if he will simply fade away into obscurity. This is a common fear that many people have, and Berryman captures it perfectly in this stanza.
The fourth stanza is where the poem takes another turn. The speaker begins to reflect on his own life and the mistakes he has made. He wonders if he has lived his life to the fullest, or if he has wasted it. This is another common theme in Berryman's poetry, as he often explores the idea of regret and the choices we make in life.
The fifth and final stanza is where the poem comes full circle. The speaker returns to the memory of Henry and how much he misses him. He wonders if Henry is watching over him, or if he is simply gone forever. This stanza is a reminder that even though we may question the nature of death and our own mortality, the memories of those we have lost will always remain with us.
One of the most striking things about Dream Song 85 is its use of language and literary devices. Berryman's poetry is known for its unique style, which often includes fragmented sentences, unconventional syntax, and a mix of formal and informal language. This style can be seen throughout the poem, as the speaker's thoughts and emotions are conveyed through a series of disjointed phrases and images.
Another literary device that Berryman uses in Dream Song 85 is repetition. The phrase "I miss him" is repeated several times throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's feelings of loss and longing. The repetition of this phrase also serves to create a sense of rhythm and structure within the poem.
The use of imagery is also prominent in Dream Song 85. Berryman uses vivid descriptions to create a sense of atmosphere and mood. For example, in the second stanza, he describes death as a "darkness" that "swallows up the light." This image creates a sense of foreboding and uncertainty, which is a common theme in the poem.
In conclusion, Dream Song 85: Op. posth. no. 8 by John Berryman is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of mortality, loss, and regret. Through its use of language, repetition, and imagery, the poem conveys a sense of melancholy and introspection that is both haunting and beautiful. This poem is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience.
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