'Dream Song 39: Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You're in the clear' by John Berryman
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Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You're in the clear.
'Nobody' (Mark says you said) 'is ever found out.'
I figure you were right,
having as Henry got away with murder
for long. Some jarred clock tell me it's late,
not for you who went straight
but for the lorn. Our roof is lefted off
lately: the shooter, and the bourbon man,
and then you got tired.
I'm afraid that's it. I figure you with love,
lifey, deathy, but I have a little sense
the rest of us are fired
or fired: be with us: we will blow our best,
our sad wil riffs come easy in that case,
thinking you over,
knowing you resting, who was reborn to rest,
your gorgeous sentence is done. Nothing's the same,
sir,—taking cover.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 39: Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You're in the clear by John Berryman
John Berryman's "Dream Song 39: Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You're in the clear" is a poem that captures the complexity of human emotions and the multifaceted nature of life. The poem is part of Berryman's "Dream Songs" collection, which he wrote over a period of 14 years. In this poem, Berryman explores themes such as mortality, loss, and the transient nature of life. Through his use of language and imagery, Berryman creates a vivid and haunting picture of a person coming to terms with the inevitability of their own death.
Summary
The poem is about a man who is dying and is coming to terms with his own mortality. The speaker is both sympathetic and detached, as if observing the situation from a distance. The man is saying goodbye to those around him, and Berryman uses repetition to emphasize the finality of this act. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with eight lines, and follows an ABABCCDD rhyme scheme.
In the first stanza, the man is saying goodbye to his loved ones. He tells them that he is in the clear and that they should not be sad for him. Berryman uses repetition to create a sense of finality and closure, with the repeated phrases "Goodbye, sir," and "fare well." The repetition also serves to emphasize the man's acceptance of his own mortality.
In the second stanza, the man reflects on his life and the inevitability of death. He remembers the good times and the bad, and acknowledges that he has had a full life. He also realizes that death is an inevitable part of life, and that everyone must face it eventually.
In the third stanza, the man prepares to leave this world behind. He imagines himself lying in his coffin, with the world passing him by. Berryman uses vivid and haunting language to create a sense of finality and the weight of the situation. He describes the man's body as "a dead weight," and the world around him as "fading" and "dwindling." The poem ends with the image of the man's body being lowered into the ground, and the finality of death.
Literary Analysis
Berryman's use of repetition in the poem serves to create a sense of finality and closure. The repeated phrases "Goodbye, sir," and "fare well" emphasize the man's acceptance of his own mortality, and the fact that he is saying goodbye to those he loves. The repetition also emphasizes the finality of death, and the sense that once someone is gone, they are gone forever.
The poem is also notable for its use of vivid and haunting language. Berryman uses words like "dead weight," "fading," and "dwindling" to create a sense of finality and the weight of the situation. The image of the man's body being lowered into the ground is particularly poignant, and emphasizes the finality of death.
One of the key themes of the poem is the transient nature of life. The man reflects on his life and realizes that everything he has experienced is fleeting. He acknowledges that death is an inevitable part of life, and that everyone must face it eventually. The poem is a reminder that life is short and that we should make the most of the time we have.
Berryman's use of imagery is also noteworthy. He creates a vivid picture of the man lying in his coffin, with the world passing him by. This image emphasizes the finality of death and the fact that we all must leave this world behind at some point. The image is haunting and serves to emphasize the weight of the situation.
Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the reader's perspective. One interpretation is that it is a meditation on mortality and the inevitability of death. The man in the poem is coming to terms with his own mortality and saying goodbye to those he loves. The poem is a reminder that death is an inevitable part of life, and that we should cherish the time we have.
Another interpretation is that the poem is about acceptance. The man in the poem has accepted his own mortality and is at peace with what is to come. The repetition of "Goodbye, sir" and "fare well" emphasizes this sense of acceptance and closure.
The poem can also be interpreted as a reflection on the fleeting nature of life. The man reflects on his life and realizes that everything he has experienced is temporary. The poem is a reminder that life is short and that we should make the most of the time we have.
Conclusion
"Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You're in the clear" is a haunting and powerful poem that captures the complexity of human emotions and the transient nature of life. Berryman's use of repetition, imagery, and language serve to create a vivid and poignant picture of a man coming to terms with his own mortality. The poem is a reminder that death is an inevitable part of life, and that we should cherish the time we have.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 39: Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You're in the clear, written by John Berryman, is a poem that explores the themes of loss, grief, and acceptance. The poem is part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its complex and fragmented style. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of Dream Song 39 and explore the literary devices used by Berryman to convey his message.
The poem begins with the speaker bidding farewell to someone, who is referred to as "sir." The use of the honorific "sir" suggests that the person being addressed is someone of authority or importance. The speaker then says, "You're in the clear," which can be interpreted as a way of saying that the person being addressed has passed away and is now free from the burdens of life. The phrase "in the clear" is often used in aviation to indicate that a plane has passed through a dangerous area and is now safe.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the theme of loss. The speaker says, "The boat is gone & the boatman too." The boat can be seen as a metaphor for life, and the boatman represents the person who has passed away. The use of the word "too" suggests that the speaker has also experienced loss and is mourning the departure of the boatman.
The third stanza of the poem introduces the theme of grief. The speaker says, "Where now are the eagles and the trumpets?" The eagles and trumpets can be seen as symbols of power and majesty, and their absence suggests that the speaker is mourning the loss of something great. The use of the word "where" suggests that the speaker is searching for something that is no longer there.
The fourth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of acceptance. The speaker says, "The answer is, they are in the ground." This line suggests that the eagles and trumpets, which represent power and majesty, are now buried in the ground. This can be interpreted as a way of saying that everything eventually comes to an end, and that death is a natural part of life.
The fifth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of hope. The speaker says, "And the boatman, once so handsome & so tall, is now a part of them, and they a part of him." This line suggests that the boatman, who represents the person who has passed away, is now a part of something greater. The use of the word "them" suggests that the boatman is now a part of a larger community of people who have passed away. This can be interpreted as a way of saying that death is not the end, but rather a transition to something greater.
The sixth stanza of the poem introduces the theme of memory. The speaker says, "And memory is not strictly mortal in the immortal." This line suggests that memory, which is often associated with the living, can also exist in the afterlife. The use of the words "not strictly mortal" suggests that memory can transcend death and exist in a realm that is beyond the physical world.
The seventh and final stanza of the poem introduces the theme of closure. The speaker says, "Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You've gone ashore." This line suggests that the boatman, who represents the person who has passed away, has reached his final destination. The use of the phrase "fare well" suggests that the speaker is wishing the boatman a safe journey to the afterlife. The use of the phrase "gone ashore" suggests that the boatman has reached a place of rest and closure.
Throughout the poem, Berryman uses a variety of literary devices to convey his message. One of the most prominent devices is metaphor. The boat is used as a metaphor for life, and the boatman is used as a metaphor for the person who has passed away. The eagles and trumpets are also used as metaphors for power and majesty. These metaphors help to create a vivid and powerful image of the themes of loss, grief, and acceptance.
Another literary device used by Berryman is repetition. The phrase "Goodbye, sir, & fare well" is repeated at the beginning and end of the poem. This repetition helps to create a sense of closure and finality, and reinforces the idea that the boatman has reached his final destination.
In conclusion, Dream Song 39: Goodbye, sir, & fare well. You're in the clear, written by John Berryman, is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of loss, grief, acceptance, hope, memory, and closure. Through the use of metaphor, repetition, and other literary devices, Berryman creates a vivid and poignant image of the journey from life to death. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience and to provide comfort and solace in times of grief and loss.
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