'Dream Song 29: There sat down, once, a thing' by John Berryman
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There sat down, once, a thing on Henry's heart
só heavy, if he had a hundred years
& more, & weeping, sleepless, in all them time
Henry could not make good.
Starts again always in Henry's ears
the little cough somewhere, an odour, a chime.
And there is another thing he has in mind
like a grave Sienese face a thousand years
would fail to blur the still profiled reproach of. Ghastly,
with open eyes, he attends, blind.
All the bells say: too late. This is not for tears;
thinking.
But never did Henry, as he thought he did,
end anyone and hacks her body up
and hide the pieces, where they may be found.
He knows: he went over everyone, & nobody's missing.
Often he reckons, in the dawn, them up.
Nobody is ever missing.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 29: There sat down, once, a thing by John Berryman
What is it about Dream Song 29 that captures our attention and refuses to let go? Is it the primal imagery of a man grappling with his inner demons? Or is it the masterful manipulation of language and form that creates a haunting, dreamlike atmosphere?
John Berryman's Dream Song 29 is a complex and enigmatic poem that defies easy interpretation. At first glance, it appears to be a narrative about a man's encounter with a strange creature, but as we dive deeper into the poem, we begin to realize that it is much more than that.
The Poem's Form and Structure
One of the most striking things about Dream Song 29 is its form and structure. The poem is composed of three stanzas, each containing ten lines. The lines are written in free verse, without any set meter or rhyme scheme. This gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and unpredictability, as if the words are spilling out of the speaker's mouth in a jumbled stream of consciousness.
However, despite the lack of a formal structure, the poem is highly structured in its use of repetition and allusion. The speaker repeats the phrase "There sat down, once" three times throughout the poem, creating a sense of circularity and inevitability. This repetition also serves to emphasize the importance of the encounter with the "thing" that the speaker describes.
In addition to repetition, the poem is also rich in allusion. The speaker references a range of literary and cultural figures, including Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and Goya. These references serve to contextualize the speaker's experience and provide a deeper layer of meaning to the poem.
The Theme of Alienation
At its core, Dream Song 29 is a poem about alienation and isolation. The speaker describes an encounter with a strange creature, which he refers to as a "thing." The thing is described as having "a long smooth neck / and a head like a cat," which immediately sets it apart from the speaker and the human world he inhabits.
The encounter with the thing leaves the speaker feeling even more isolated and alone than before. He describes feeling "alone and sick / as from a plane at midnight," which emphasizes the sense of disorientation and disconnection he experiences.
This theme of alienation is further reinforced by the poem's use of repetition and circularity. The speaker repeats the phrase "There sat down, once" three times, which creates a sense of inevitability and futility. The encounter with the thing is something that the speaker cannot escape, and it serves as a reminder of his own isolation and detachment from the world around him.
The Power of Language
Throughout Dream Song 29, John Berryman demonstrates the power of language to evoke emotion and create meaning. The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, from the "long smooth neck" of the thing to the speaker's description of himself as a "little man." These images serve to create a dreamlike atmosphere that is both haunting and unsettling.
In addition to imagery, Berryman also uses language to create a sense of rhythm and musicality. The lines of the poem flow together seamlessly, creating a sense of unity and coherence despite the lack of a formal structure.
Perhaps most strikingly, Berryman uses language to create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty. The speaker never explicitly states what the thing represents or what the encounter means. Instead, he relies on the power of language to create a sense of mystery and intrigue that leaves the reader pondering the poem long after they have finished reading.
Conclusion
In Dream Song 29, John Berryman demonstrates his mastery of language and form to create a haunting and enigmatic poem that defies easy interpretation. Through its use of repetition, allusion, and vivid imagery, the poem explores themes of alienation and isolation while also demonstrating the power of language to evoke emotion and create meaning.
Whether read as a narrative about a man's encounter with a strange creature or as a metaphor for the human condition, Dream Song 29 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that continues to captivate and intrigue readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 29: There sat down, once, a thing is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his famous collection of poems called The Dream Songs. The Dream Songs is a series of 385 poems that Berryman wrote between 1955 and 1967. The collection is known for its unique style, which combines elements of confessional poetry, surrealism, and dark humor. Dream Song 29 is one of the most famous poems in the collection and is often cited as an example of Berryman's mastery of the form.
The poem begins with the line "There sat down, once, a thing on Henry's heart." The "thing" in question is a bird, specifically a "robin redbreast." The bird is described as sitting on Henry's heart, which is a metaphor for the weight of the bird's presence. The bird is not a physical bird, but rather a symbol of something else. The bird represents the burden of Henry's past, which he carries with him wherever he goes.
The second stanza of the poem describes the bird's behavior. The bird is described as "tapping" on Henry's heart, which is a metaphor for the way that Henry's past haunts him. The bird is also described as "pecking" at Henry's heart, which is a metaphor for the way that Henry's past is constantly gnawing at him. The bird's behavior is a reminder of the pain and suffering that Henry has experienced in his life.
The third stanza of the poem describes Henry's reaction to the bird. Henry is described as "smiling" at the bird, which is a metaphor for the way that he tries to hide his pain from others. Henry is also described as "nodding" at the bird, which is a metaphor for the way that he acknowledges the bird's presence but does not confront it directly. Henry's reaction to the bird is a reflection of his internal struggle to come to terms with his past.
The fourth stanza of the poem describes the bird's departure. The bird is described as "flying away," which is a metaphor for the way that Henry's past is always with him but also always out of reach. The bird's departure is a reminder that Henry can never fully escape his past, but he can learn to live with it.
The final stanza of the poem is a reflection on the nature of memory. The stanza begins with the line "The difficult part of love is being / selfish enough, / because love is an absolute." This line is a reflection on the way that love and memory are intertwined. Love is an absolute, which means that it is all-encompassing and all-consuming. Memory is also all-encompassing and all-consuming, which means that it is difficult to separate the two.
The final lines of the poem are "Memory, of course, remains / terrible." These lines are a reminder that memory is a double-edged sword. Memory can bring joy and happiness, but it can also bring pain and suffering. The bird in the poem represents the pain and suffering that memory can bring. The poem is a reminder that we must learn to live with our past, even if it is painful.
In conclusion, Dream Song 29: There sat down, once, a thing is a classic poem that explores the theme of memory and its impact on our lives. The poem is a reflection on the way that our past can haunt us and the struggle to come to terms with it. The bird in the poem represents the burden of our past, and the poem is a reminder that we must learn to live with it. Berryman's unique style and use of metaphor make this poem a masterpiece of modern poetry.
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