'Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices' by John Berryman
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Some good people, daring & subtle voices
and their tense faces, as I think of it
I see sank underground.
I see. My radar digs. I do not dig.
Cool their flushing blood, them eyes is shut—
eyes?
Appalled: by all the dead: Henry brooded.
Without exception! All.
ALL.
The senior population waits. Come down! come down!
A ghastly & flashing pause, clothed,
life called; us do.
In a madhouse heard I an ancient man
tube-fed who had not said for fifteen years
(they said) one canny word,
senile forever, who a heart might pierce,
mutter 'O come on down. O come on down.'
Clear whom he meant.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices
John Berryman's Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices is a complex and intricate piece of poetry that demands close attention and careful interpretation. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the various themes, symbols, and literary techniques used in the poem to provide a comprehensive analysis of the work.
Overview of the Poem
Dream Song 21 is part of a larger sequence of poems that Berryman wrote in the 1960s, collectively known as The Dream Songs. The poem is written in a unique style that combines elements of free verse, prose poetry, and traditional form. It is divided into three stanzas, each containing six lines, and is written in a first-person narrative voice.
The poem begins with the speaker addressing "some good people," whom he describes as "daring & subtle voices." The speaker then goes on to describe a dream he had in which he saw a "silver man" who was "running like mad." The dream ends with the silver man jumping into a river and disappearing.
In the second stanza, the speaker describes a woman he met who reminded him of the silver man from his dream. The woman is described as being "quick" and "eager," and the speaker is drawn to her. However, the speaker is unable to connect with the woman on a deeper level, and she eventually leaves.
The final stanza is a reflection on the speaker's own life and his inability to connect with others. He describes himself as being "alone," and unable to find anyone who truly understands him. The poem ends with the speaker declaring that he will continue to search for someone who can "know" him.
Themes
Dream Song 21 explores a number of themes, including alienation, loneliness, and the search for meaning and connection. The speaker of the poem is portrayed as being alone and isolated, unable to connect with others on a meaningful level. This theme is evident in the poem's title, which suggests that the "good people" the speaker is addressing are difficult to find.
The poem also explores the theme of identity and self-discovery. The silver man in the speaker's dream can be seen as a symbol of the speaker's own search for meaning and identity. The silver man is described as running "like mad," suggesting a sense of urgency and desperation. The fact that he jumps into a river and disappears can be seen as a metaphor for the speaker's own struggle to find himself.
Finally, the poem explores the theme of illusion and reality. The dream sequence in the poem blurs the lines between reality and fantasy, and the woman the speaker meets can be seen as a symbol of the speaker's own illusions and desires. The fact that the woman eventually leaves suggests that the illusions and desires of the speaker cannot be sustained.
Literary Techniques
Berryman employs a number of literary techniques in Dream Song 21 to convey the poem's themes and create a unique style. One of the most prominent techniques is the use of free verse, which allows Berryman to experiment with form and structure. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or meter gives the poem a more conversational tone and allows the speaker to express his thoughts and feelings in a more natural way.
The poem also employs a number of metaphors and symbols. The silver man in the dream sequence can be seen as a metaphor for the speaker's own search for identity and meaning. The river into which the silver man jumps can be seen as a symbol of the unknown and the uncharted territory of the speaker's own psyche.
Finally, the poem employs a number of literary techniques to explore the theme of alienation and loneliness. The repetition of the phrase "alone" in the final stanza emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation and the difficulty he has in connecting with others. The use of the first-person narrative voice also allows the reader to experience the speaker's own feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Interpretation
Dream Song 21 is a deeply personal and introspective poem that explores the themes of alienation, identity, and the search for meaning and connection. The speaker of the poem is portrayed as being alone and isolated, unable to connect with others on a meaningful level. The dream sequence in the poem and the use of metaphors and symbols allow the reader to experience the speaker's own struggle to find himself.
The use of free verse and the first-person narrative voice create a unique style that allows the reader to connect with the speaker on a more intimate level. The repetition of the phrase "alone" in the final stanza emphasizes the speaker's sense of isolation and the difficulty he has in connecting with others.
Overall, Dream Song 21 is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the universal human experience of loneliness and the search for meaning and connection. Berryman's use of literary techniques and symbols creates a rich and complex work that demands close attention and careful interpretation.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices by John Berryman is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that is both complex and simple, with layers of meaning that can be interpreted in different ways. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its significance.
The poem is part of a larger collection of poems called The Dream Songs, which Berryman wrote over a period of several years. The Dream Songs are known for their surreal imagery, fragmented narrative, and use of a persona called Henry, who is a stand-in for the poet himself. Dream Song 21 is no exception, as it features Henry in a dream-like state, reflecting on his life and the people he has known.
The poem begins with the line "Some good people, daring & subtle voices," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The use of the word "some" suggests that Henry is reflecting on a specific group of people, rather than all the people he has known. The words "daring" and "subtle" suggest that these people are not ordinary, but rather exceptional in some way.
The next few lines of the poem describe these people in more detail. They are "tense, low, sly, with high & hurtless eyes," which suggests that they are both guarded and perceptive. The use of the word "hurtless" is interesting, as it suggests that these people are not easily wounded, either physically or emotionally. This could be interpreted as a sign of strength or resilience.
The poem then takes a more personal turn, as Henry reflects on his own life and the people he has known. He says that he has "known few poets worth knowing," which suggests that he is a poet himself and has high standards for his peers. He then goes on to describe some of the poets he has known, including "one who kept birds & wrote fine verse & died / early; a tragic life, but not his work."
This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the poet's life was cut short, but his work lives on. It also suggests that Henry values the work of his peers more than their personal lives, which could be seen as a commentary on the nature of art and its ability to transcend the limitations of the human experience.
The poem then takes a more surreal turn, as Henry describes a "man who dressed as a bird & flew / through his own house." This image is both absurd and fantastical, but it also suggests a sense of freedom and escape from the constraints of everyday life. The use of the word "flew" suggests that this man was able to transcend the limitations of his physical body and experience a sense of liberation.
The poem then returns to a more personal tone, as Henry reflects on his own life and the people he has known. He says that he has "known some good women, too," but that they have "gone down the long hallway into silence." This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the women in Henry's life have passed away or moved on, leaving him alone with his memories.
The poem then takes a more philosophical turn, as Henry reflects on the nature of life and death. He says that "life, friends, is boring," but that "we must not say so / after all, the sky flashes, the great sea yearns." This line suggests that while life may seem mundane at times, there is still beauty and wonder to be found in the world around us.
The poem then ends with the line "we ourselves flash and yearn," which suggests that we are all part of the same cycle of life and death. The use of the word "flash" suggests that our lives are brief and fleeting, while the word "yearn" suggests a sense of longing or desire for something more.
In terms of structure, Dream Song 21 is a free verse poem with no set rhyme or meter. This allows Berryman to experiment with language and imagery, creating a dream-like atmosphere that is both surreal and evocative. The use of enjambment, or the continuation of a sentence or phrase onto the next line, also adds to the fragmented and disjointed feel of the poem.
In terms of language, Berryman uses a mix of formal and informal language, as well as slang and colloquialisms. This creates a sense of authenticity and immediacy, as if Henry is speaking directly to the reader. The use of repetition, particularly the repetition of the phrase "good people," also adds to the hypnotic and dream-like quality of the poem.
Overall, Dream Song 21: Some good people, daring & subtle voices is a complex and multi-layered poem that explores themes of life, death, art, and the human experience. Through its use of surreal imagery, fragmented narrative, and evocative language, the poem creates a dream-like atmosphere that is both haunting and beautiful. It is a testament to Berryman's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the essence of the human condition in all its complexity and nuance.
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