'Dream Song 64: Supreme my holdings, greater yet my need' by John Berryman
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Supreme my holdings, greater yet my need,
thoughtless I go out. Dawn. Have I my cig's,
my flaskie O,
O crystal cock,—my kneel has gone to seed,—
and anybody's blessing? (Blast the MIGs
for making funble so
my tardy readying.) Yes, utter' that.
Anybody's blessing? —Mr Bones,
you makes too much
démand. I might be 'fording you a hat:
it gonna rain. —I knew a one of groans
& greed & spite, of a crutch,
who thought he had, a vile night, been-well-blest.
He see someone run off. Why not Henry,
with his grasp of desire?
—Hear matters hard to manage at de best,
Mr Bones. Tween what we see, what be,
is blinds. Them blinds' on fire.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 64: Supreme my holdings, greater yet my need
John Berryman's Dream Song 64 is a complex and compelling poem that explores the themes of greed, desire, and the human condition. The poem is one of the 385 Dream Songs that Berryman wrote throughout his career, and it is widely regarded as one of the most powerful and moving pieces in the collection.
The poem begins with the line "Supreme my holdings, greater yet my need," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is clearly someone who has accumulated a great deal of wealth and possessions, but who is still consumed by a deep sense of longing and dissatisfaction.
Throughout the poem, the speaker reflects on his life and his pursuit of material possessions, noting that despite his wealth, he is still plagued by a sense of emptiness and longing. He describes himself as "a man of wealth and taste," recalling the famous Rolling Stones song, but notes that even with all of his possessions, he still feels incomplete.
The poem is filled with vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, which help to convey the speaker's sense of longing and discontent. For example, he compares himself to a "bird of prey" and a "hungry ghost," both of which are symbols of greed and desire. He also uses the metaphor of a ship to describe his journey through life, noting that despite all of his possessions, he still feels adrift and lost.
One of the most striking aspects of Dream Song 64 is its use of language. The poem is written in a highly stylized and complex form, with a repeating chorus and a structure that defies conventional meter and rhyme. This makes the poem difficult to read and interpret, but also adds to its power and emotional impact.
The poem's chorus, which repeats throughout the piece, is particularly powerful. It reads:
"My heart's aflutter! I am standing in the bath tub crying. Mother, mother who am I? If he will just come back once and kiss me on the face his coarse hair brush my temple, it's throbbing!"
This chorus is both haunting and memorable, and it helps to convey the speaker's deep sense of longing and confusion. It also adds to the poem's sense of ambiguity and complexity, as readers are left to interpret its meaning for themselves.
Overall, Dream Song 64 is a powerful and moving poem that explores some of the most fundamental aspects of the human condition. Through its use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and complex language, it conveys a sense of longing and discontent that is both universal and deeply personal. Whether read as an exploration of greed and desire, or as a meditation on the nature of human existence, it is a work that is sure to leave a lasting impression on readers.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 64: Supreme my holdings, greater yet my need 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 poem, Berryman explores the themes of desire, greed, and the human condition. Through his use of language and imagery, Berryman creates a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today.
The poem begins with the line "Supreme my holdings, greater yet my need," which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Berryman is expressing the idea that no matter how much we have, we always want more. This is a universal human experience, and Berryman captures it perfectly in this opening line. He goes on to describe the speaker's desire for "more than the world contains," which is a powerful statement about the human condition. We are always searching for something more, something beyond what we already have.
The second stanza of the poem is particularly striking. Berryman writes, "I choke on surface, while my depths for air / are gasped in vain, and with my mind's despair." This is a powerful image of someone drowning, struggling to breathe. The speaker is suffocating under the weight of their own desires, unable to find satisfaction or contentment. This is a common experience for many people, and Berryman captures it in a way that is both visceral and relatable.
The third stanza of the poem is where Berryman really starts to play with language and imagery. He writes, "I have no heart, alas, my half of dust / sucked up in the vacuum of your face." This is a powerful metaphor for the speaker's desire for someone else. They have given their heart to this person, but it has been sucked away, leaving them feeling empty and hollow. This is a common experience in love and relationships, and Berryman captures it in a way that is both poignant and haunting.
The fourth stanza of the poem is where Berryman really starts to explore the theme of greed. He writes, "I want your life, I want your wife, I want / your girl, I want your job, I want your friends." This is a powerful statement about the human desire for more. The speaker wants everything that this other person has, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. This is a common experience in our society, where we are constantly bombarded with messages telling us that we need more, that we need to be better, that we need to have it all.
The fifth stanza of the poem is where Berryman really starts to play with language and structure. He writes, "I want your sins, I want your grin, I want / your break, I want your cake, I want your love." This is a powerful use of repetition, which creates a sense of urgency and desperation. The speaker is listing all of the things that they want, and the repetition of the phrase "I want" creates a sense of obsession and compulsion.
The final stanza of the poem is where Berryman brings everything together. He writes, "I want your failure, fears, I want your joy, / I want your lips, I want your breath, I want your death." This is a powerful statement about the human desire for everything, even the things that we don't want. The speaker wants everything that this other person has, even their failures and fears. This is a powerful statement about the human condition, and the way that we are always searching for something more.
In conclusion, Dream Song 64: Supreme my holdings, greater yet my need is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the themes of desire, greed, and the human condition. Through his use of language and imagery, Berryman creates a piece of literature that continues to resonate with readers today. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry, and the way that it can capture the complexities of the human experience in a way that is both beautiful and haunting.
Editor Recommended Sites
Crypto Trading - Best practice for swing traders & Crypto Technical Analysis: Learn crypto technical analysis, liquidity, momentum, fundamental analysis and swing trading techniquesPrompt Composing: AutoGPT style composition of LLMs for attention focus on different parts of the problem, auto suggest and continue
Best Scifi Games - Highest Rated Scifi Games & Top Ranking Scifi Games: Find the best Scifi games of all time
New Today App: Top tech news from around the internet
Local Meet-up Group App: Meetup alternative, local meetup groups in DFW
Recommended Similar Analysis
Houses of Dreams by Sarah Teasdale analysisGiaour , The by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
Fame is a bee by Emily Dickinson analysis
A Poison Tree by William Blake analysis
Apologia Pro Poemate Meo by Wilfred Owen analysis
A Predicament by Edgar Allen Poe analysis
I Have A Rendezvous With Death by Alan Seeger analysis
Law Like Love by W.H. Auden analysis
It Is Not Growing Like A Tree by Ben Jonson analysis
I Knew A Woman by Theodore Roethke analysis