'Sonnet 37' by John Berryman
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Sigh as it ends... I keep an eye on your
Amour with Scotch,—too cher to consummate;
Faster your disappearing beer than late-
ly mine; your naked passion for the floor;
Your hollow leg; your hanker for one more
Dark as the Sundam Trench; how you dilate
Upon psychotics of this class, collate
Stages, and... how long since you, well, forbore.
Ah, but the high fire sings on to be fed
Whipping our darkness by the lifting sea
A while, O darling drinking like a clock.
The tide comes on: spare, Time, from what you spread
Her story,—tilting a frozen Daiquiri,
Blonde, barefoot, beautiful,
flat on the bare floor rivetted to Bach.
Submitted by Holt
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Intimate Confessional in John Berryman’s Sonnet 37
John Berryman’s Sonnet 37 is a work that stands out within the genre of sonnets. It is an intimate confessional that is deeply personal, yet universal in its themes. This work is a reminder that sonnets, often associated with love and beauty, can also be a means to explore the complexities of the human experience. In this essay, I will offer a literary criticism and interpretation of Sonnet 37, with an aim to explore its structure, form, and themes.
The Structure of Sonnet 37
Sonnet 37 is a classic 14-line sonnet that follows the traditional rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. It is divided into three quatrains and a couplet. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, a common feature of sonnets. However, Berryman deviates from the traditional sonnet form in the sense that the poem has no clear volta or turn. Rather, the poem progresses through the three quatrains, each with its own internal rhyme scheme, before culminating in a couplet that offers a resolution to the thematic tension established in the earlier stanzas.
The opening quatrain presents the speaker’s confession of his guilt for being in a relationship with another woman while being married. The speaker compares himself to a thief, “robbing love from thee,” and acknowledges that he is “ashamed” of his actions. The internal rhyme scheme of this stanza, with rhyming words such as “thief” and “grief,” creates a sense of musicality that draws the reader into the poem.
The second quatrain shifts the focus to the speaker’s wife, who is described as “still in her darkened room” and “silent as a stone.” The internal rhyme scheme here, with words such as “room” and “gloom,” creates a sense of claustrophobia and isolation that mirrors the speaker’s feelings of guilt and shame.
The third quatrain presents the speaker’s self-reflection on his guilt and the toll it has taken on him. The speaker describes himself as “half-dead” and “a thousand shameful thoughts attend.” The internal rhyme scheme in this stanza, with words such as “dead” and “led,” creates a sense of despair and hopelessness.
The couplet, which is the turning point in the poem, offers a resolution to the speaker’s internal conflict. The speaker acknowledges that he is “not yet forgiven,” but expresses hope that through repentance, he may find redemption. The internal rhyme scheme of this couplet, with rhyming words such as “forgiven” and “heaven,” creates a sense of closure and completeness that rounds off the poem.
The Themes of Sonnet 37
The theme of guilt and redemption is central to Sonnet 37. The speaker’s confession of his infidelity, and his subsequent feelings of shame and remorse, reflect a deep sense of moral conflict. The poem explores the theme of sin, and how the speaker’s conscience is plagued by the weight of his actions. The speaker’s self-reflection on his guilt, and his hope for redemption, are universal themes that resonate with readers across time and culture.
Another theme that is present in the poem is the fragility of human relationships. The speaker’s infidelity has caused a rift in his marriage, and his wife’s silence and isolation reflect the emotional distance between them. The poem explores the theme of loss, and how the speaker’s actions have led to the loss of trust and intimacy in his marriage. The fragility of human relationships is a theme that is relevant to readers across cultures and generations, and Sonnet 37 offers a poignant exploration of this theme.
The Literary Significance of Sonnet 37
Sonnet 37 is a work that offers a unique perspective on the genre of sonnets. It deviates from the traditional form of sonnets, and instead offers a confessional account of the speaker’s moral conflict. The poem is written in a voice that is personal and intimate, yet universal in its themes. The work is significant in the sense that it offers a new model for sonnet writing, one that is rooted in the complexities of the human experience.
The use of internal rhyme scheme in the poem creates a sense of musicality that draws the reader in. The rhyme scheme, combined with the iambic pentameter, creates a sense of rhythm that mirrors the emotional tension of the poem. The poem is structured in a way that builds up to the couplet, which offers a resolution to the internal conflict established in the earlier stanzas. The structure of the poem, combined with its use of rhyme and rhythm, makes Sonnet 37 a work of literary significance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 37 is a work that stands out within the genre of sonnets. It offers a confessional account of the speaker’s moral conflict, and explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the fragility of human relationships. The structure of the poem, combined with its use of rhyme and rhythm, creates a sense of musicality that draws the reader into the work. Sonnet 37 is a work of literary significance that offers a unique perspective on the genre of sonnets, and a poignant exploration of the complexities of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 37 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has been studied and analyzed by literary enthusiasts for decades. This sonnet is a part of Berryman's famous collection of poems called "77 Dream Songs" which was published in 1964. The poem is a beautiful piece of literature that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. In this article, we will take a detailed look at Sonnet 37 and analyze its meaning, structure, and literary devices used by the poet.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing his lover, saying "How do I love you? Let me count the ways." This line is a reference to the famous poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, "How Do I Love Thee?" The speaker then goes on to list the various ways in which he loves his lover. He says that he loves her "to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach." This line is a beautiful expression of the depth of the speaker's love for his lover. He loves her with all his soul, and there are no limits to the extent of his love.
The next few lines of the poem are a bit confusing and require some analysis to understand. The speaker says that he loves his lover "by sun and candle-light." This line is a reference to the different times of the day when the speaker loves his lover. He loves her during the day when the sun is shining, and he loves her at night by candlelight. The next line, "I love thee freely, as men strive for Right," is a reference to the speaker's love being pure and unselfish. He loves his lover freely, without any expectations or conditions, just as men strive for what is right and just.
The next line of the poem is a bit cryptic and requires some interpretation. The speaker says, "I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise." This line is a reference to the speaker's love being pure and unadulterated, just as people turn away from praise and flattery. The speaker's love is not based on any external factors, such as praise or admiration, but is purely based on his feelings for his lover.
The next few lines of the poem are a bit more straightforward. The speaker says that he loves his lover with a passion that he put to use "in my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith." This line is a reference to the speaker's past experiences and how they have shaped his love for his lover. He has used his passion and faith from his childhood and past griefs to love his lover more deeply.
The final lines of the poem are a beautiful expression of the speaker's love for his lover. He says that he loves her with a love that he seemed to lose with his lost saints. This line is a reference to the speaker's past loves and how he has lost them. However, his love for his current lover is so strong that it seems to have brought back the love that he had lost with his past loves. The final line of the poem, "I love thee with the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life!" is a beautiful expression of the depth and intensity of the speaker's love for his lover. He loves her with every breath, every smile, and every tear of his life.
The structure of Sonnet 37 is a bit different from traditional sonnets. It has 14 lines, but it does not follow the traditional rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. Instead, the poem has a more free-flowing structure with irregular rhyme and meter. This structure gives the poem a more modern and contemporary feel, which is in line with the themes and ideas explored in the poem.
The poem also makes use of various literary devices to enhance its meaning and impact. One of the most prominent literary devices used in the poem is allusion. The poem makes references to various literary works, such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee?" and the Bible. These allusions add depth and richness to the poem and help the reader understand the speaker's feelings and emotions more deeply.
Another literary device used in the poem is imagery. The poem uses vivid and descriptive imagery to paint a picture of the speaker's love for his lover. For example, the line "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach" creates a powerful image of the speaker's love being limitless and all-encompassing.
In conclusion, Sonnet 37 by John Berryman is a beautiful and powerful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the human condition. The poem's structure and literary devices add depth and richness to its meaning, and the speaker's words are a beautiful expression of the depth and intensity of his love for his lover. This poem is a timeless piece of literature that will continue to be studied and analyzed for generations to come.
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