'Dream Song 53: He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht' by John Berryman
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He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht.
More Sparine for Pelides,
human (half) & down here as he is,
with probably insulting mail to open
and certainly unworthy words to hear
and his unforgiving memory.
—I seldom go to films. They are too exciting,
said the Honourable Possum.
—It takes me so long to read the 'paper,
said to me one day a novelist hot as a firecracker,
because I have to identify myself with everyone in it,
including the corpses, pal.'
Kierkegaard wanted a society, to refuse to read 'papers,
and that was not, friends, his worst idea.
Tiny Hardy, toward the end, refused to say anything,
a programme adopted early on by long Housman,
and Gottfried Benn
said:—We are using our own skins for wallpaper and we cannot win.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 53: He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht
John Berryman's Dream Song 53: He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of identity, isolation, and mortality. Through a series of surreal and haunting images, Berryman creates a vivid portrait of a man struggling to come to terms with his place in the world.
Overview
At its core, Dream Song 53 is a meditation on the nature of identity. The poem's protagonist is a man who is deeply unsure of who he is, where he comes from, and where he belongs. He feels disconnected from the people and places around him, and is constantly searching for something that he cannot quite define.
Throughout the poem, Berryman uses a series of surreal images to create a dreamlike atmosphere that mirrors the protagonist's sense of dislocation. We see the man lying in the middle of the world, twitching and writhing in agony. We see him surrounded by strange and ominous creatures, including a "green-grown chameleon" and a "devil's snuff-box". And we see him struggling to understand the meaning of his existence, searching for something that he can never quite grasp.
Analysis
One of the most striking aspects of Dream Song 53 is its use of vivid and unsettling imagery. Berryman creates a world that is both familiar and strange, populated by creatures that are both recognizable and otherworldly. The man lying in the middle of the world, for example, is a potent symbol of the protagonist's sense of isolation and disorientation. He is literally at the center of the world, but he is also completely alone.
The green-grown chameleon and the devil's snuff-box are similarly unsettling. The chameleon is a creature that is known for its ability to change its appearance to match its surroundings, suggesting that the protagonist is struggling to find his place in the world. The devil's snuff-box, on the other hand, is a plant that is associated with dark and mysterious forces, suggesting that the protagonist is grappling with deep-seated fears and anxieties.
Another key theme in Dream Song 53 is mortality. The man lying in the middle of the world is clearly in immense pain, and the poem suggests that this pain is a metaphor for the human condition. We are all struggling to come to terms with our own mortality, and the protagonist's writhing and twitching suggest that he is acutely aware of his own impending death.
At the same time, however, there is a sense of hope and redemption in the poem. The final lines, in which the protagonist begins to understand the meaning of his existence, suggest that there is a way out of the darkness. Even in the face of death and uncertainty, there is still the possibility of finding meaning and purpose in life.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? At its core, Dream Song 53 is a poem about the struggle to find meaning and identity in a world that is often confusing and overwhelming. The protagonist is a stand-in for all of us, grappling with the same fears and anxieties that we all face.
The surreal and dreamlike imagery in the poem reflects the protagonist's sense of dislocation and confusion, as well as his deep-seated fears about mortality and the unknown. But at the same time, there is a sense of hope and redemption in the poem. Even in the face of death and uncertainty, the protagonist is able to find meaning and purpose in his existence.
Ultimately, then, Dream Song 53 is a poem about the human condition. It is a meditation on the struggle to find meaning and identity in a world that is often chaotic and confusing. Through its use of vivid and unsettling imagery, the poem creates a powerful and haunting portrait of a man struggling to come to terms with his place in the world. And in the end, despite all of the darkness and uncertainty, there is still the possibility of finding hope and redemption.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 53: He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of his Dream Songs collection, which is known for its unique style and structure. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the line "He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht," which immediately captures the reader's attention. The use of the word "twicht" is interesting as it is not a commonly used word, and it creates a sense of unease and discomfort. The word "twicht" is a variation of the word "twitch," which means to make a sudden, quick movement. This suggests that the subject of the poem is in a state of restlessness or discomfort.
The next line, "Numbness fell on everything," adds to the sense of unease. The word "numbness" suggests a lack of feeling or sensation, which creates a sense of detachment from the world. This detachment is further emphasized in the following lines, "The stars turned blue, the grass rose, the earth / As for all that, it's not worth / A bean except to a dead man."
These lines suggest that the subject of the poem is experiencing a sense of detachment from the world around him. The stars turning blue and the grass rising could be interpreted as a hallucination or a dream-like state. The line "As for all that, it's not worth / A bean except to a dead man" suggests that the subject of the poem is questioning the value of life and the world around him.
The next stanza begins with the line "The world whizzed by, still on the move," which suggests that the world is continuing to move forward despite the subject's detachment from it. The line "He wondered where the hell he was" further emphasizes the subject's confusion and disorientation.
The following lines, "The world whizzed by, still on the move, / And here are forests ancient as the hills, / enfolding sunny spots of greenery," suggest that the world is full of beauty and wonder, but the subject is unable to fully appreciate it. The use of the word "enfolding" suggests a sense of protection and comfort, which contrasts with the subject's sense of detachment and discomfort.
The next stanza begins with the line "He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht," which repeats the opening line of the poem. This repetition creates a sense of circularity and reinforces the sense of the subject's restlessness and discomfort.
The following lines, "The birds, the animals, the insects, all / Were there to see him, hear him bawl," suggest that the subject is not alone in his detachment from the world. The use of the word "bawl" suggests a sense of frustration and despair.
The final stanza begins with the line "He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht," which repeats the opening line of the poem once again. This repetition reinforces the sense of circularity and suggests that the subject's sense of detachment and discomfort is ongoing.
The final lines of the poem, "And nothing happened: day was there, / And night, and day, and night. / He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht," suggest that the subject's sense of detachment and discomfort is ongoing and that nothing will change. The repetition of the opening line of the poem reinforces this sense of circularity and suggests that the subject is trapped in a cycle of restlessness and discomfort.
In terms of structure, Dream Song 53: He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht is composed of four stanzas, each with four lines. The repetition of the opening line of the poem in each stanza creates a sense of circularity and reinforces the sense of the subject's restlessness and discomfort.
In terms of literary devices, the poem makes use of repetition, imagery, and symbolism. The repetition of the opening line of the poem in each stanza creates a sense of circularity and reinforces the sense of the subject's restlessness and discomfort. The use of imagery, such as the stars turning blue and the grass rising, creates a dream-like atmosphere and emphasizes the subject's detachment from the world. The use of symbolism, such as the forests enfolding sunny spots of greenery, suggests a sense of protection and comfort that contrasts with the subject's sense of detachment and discomfort.
In conclusion, Dream Song 53: He lay in the middle of the world, and twicht is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores themes of detachment, discomfort, and the value of life. The use of repetition, imagery, and symbolism creates a dream-like atmosphere that emphasizes the subject's sense of detachment from the world. The circular structure of the poem reinforces the sense of the subject's restlessness and discomfort and suggests that nothing will change. Overall, this poem is a testament to John Berryman's skill as a poet and his ability to capture complex emotions and ideas in a few short lines.
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