'Dream Song 127: Again, his friend's death made the man sit still' by John Berryman
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Again, his friend's death made the man sit still
and freeze inside—his daughter won first price—
his wife scowled over at him—
It seemed to be Hallowe'en.
His friend's death had been adjudged suicide,
which dangles a trail
longer than Henry's chill, longer than his loss
and longer than the letter that he wrote
that day to the widow
to find out what the hell had happened thus.
All souls converge upon a hopeless mote
tonight, as though
the throngs of souls in hopeless pain rise up
to say they cannot care, to say they abide
whatever is to come.
My air is flung with souls which will not stop
and among them hangs a soul that has not died
and refuses to come home.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 127: Again, his friend's death made the man sit still
John Berryman's Dream Song 127 is a poem that explores the theme of grief and loss. The poem is a reflection on the death of a friend, and the impact that this loss has on the speaker. Berryman uses his skill with language and imagery to create a powerful and moving portrait of a man struggling to come to terms with the loss of someone he cared about deeply.
At its core, Dream Song 127 is a poem about the way that death can disrupt and derail our lives. The poem begins with the speaker sitting still, unable to move or think about anything else. The opening lines of the poem capture this sense of paralysis:
Again, his friend's death made the man sit still and freeze inside--his daughter won first price at school in the singing contest; the girl jane
Here, we see the speaker struggling to reconcile the joy of his daughter's success with the overwhelming sadness of his friend's death. The juxtaposition of these two events underscores the way that death can disrupt our lives, and how it can be difficult to find meaning or solace in the midst of such profound loss.
But even as the poem explores the pain and despair of grief, it also hints at the possibility of renewal and transformation. Throughout the poem, Berryman uses images of light and darkness to create a sense of movement and change. For example, in the following lines, the speaker describes the way that his friend's death has cast a shadow over his life:
It's dark here. The figure in black near him said, "You must take off your clothes, lie on the ground, let me come into you."
Here, we see the way that death has cast a dark shadow over the speaker's life. The figure in black represents the specter of death itself, a reminder that the end will come for all of us eventually. But even as the darkness threatens to consume the speaker, there is a suggestion of something more hopeful lurking just beneath the surface.
Throughout the poem, Berryman uses vivid and evocative language to create a sense of movement and transformation. The imagery of light and darkness is particularly powerful, as it underscores the way that even in the darkest moments of our lives, there is always the possibility of illumination and renewal.
At the same time, Dream Song 127 is a deeply personal poem, one that speaks to the universal experience of grief and loss, but also to the unique and specific pain of losing someone we love. Berryman's use of the first person perspective throughout the poem creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, as if we are experiencing the speaker's pain and sorrow firsthand.
In conclusion, Dream Song 127 is a powerful and moving poem that explores the theme of grief and loss with skill and sensitivity. Berryman's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and evocative portrait of a man struggling to come to terms with the death of a friend. By weaving together themes of light and darkness, hope and despair, Berryman creates a complex and nuanced portrait of the human experience, one that speaks to the unique and universal nature of our shared humanity.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 127: Again, his friend's death made the man sit still is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its complex and surreal imagery. In this poem, Berryman explores the theme of grief and loss through the perspective of a man who has lost his friend.
The poem begins with the line "Again, his friend's death made the man sit still." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it immediately establishes the theme of grief and loss. The repetition of the word "again" suggests that the man has experienced loss before, and that this is not the first time he has had to deal with the pain of losing someone close to him.
The next few lines of the poem describe the man's reaction to his friend's death. Berryman writes, "he sat and looked out the front window / of the house, where he had been living for some years." This image of the man sitting and staring out the window is a powerful one, as it suggests that he is lost in thought and unable to move on from his grief.
The poem then takes a surreal turn, as Berryman writes, "He had not moved a muscle for six days / and nights, like a corpse, except to nod / or drink." This image of the man sitting still for six days and nights is a disturbing one, as it suggests that he has become almost like a corpse himself. The fact that he only moves to nod or drink suggests that he is barely alive, and that his grief has consumed him completely.
The next few lines of the poem describe the man's memories of his friend. Berryman writes, "He remembered the times they had together, / the jokes they had shared, the secrets they had kept." These memories are bittersweet, as they remind the man of the good times he had with his friend, but also of the fact that his friend is now gone.
The poem then takes another surreal turn, as Berryman writes, "He thought of the way his friend had died, / the way he had been taken from him." This image of the friend being "taken" suggests that his death was sudden and unexpected, and that the man was not prepared for it. The fact that the man is still thinking about the way his friend died suggests that he is struggling to come to terms with his loss.
The final lines of the poem describe the man's realization that he must move on from his grief. Berryman writes, "He knew that he could not sit still forever, / that he must eventually get up and go on with his life." This realization is a powerful one, as it suggests that the man has finally come to terms with his loss and is ready to move on.
Overall, Dream Song 127: Again, his friend's death made the man sit still is a powerful and moving poem that explores the theme of grief and loss. Through the use of surreal imagery and powerful language, Berryman captures the pain and confusion that comes with losing someone close to you. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience, and to help us make sense of the world around us.
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