'Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9' by John Berryman


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The conclusion is growing . . . I feel sure, my lord,
this august court will entertain the plea
Not Guilty by reason of death.
I can say no more except that for the record
I add that all the crimes since all the times he
died will be due to the breath

of unknown others, sweating in theri guilt
while my client Henry's brow of stainless steel
rests free, as well it may,
of all such turbulence, whereof not built
Henry lies clear as any onion-peel
in any sandwich, say.

He spiced us: there, my lord, the wicked fault
lodges: we judged him when we did not know
and we did judge him wrong,
lying incapable of crime save salt
preservative in cases here below
adduced. Not to prolong

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 by John Berryman

Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like you were drowning in emotions and thoughts? Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 by John Berryman is one such poem. This poem is a part of the larger collection of poetry known as The Dream Songs. Berryman's Dream Songs have garnered a lot of critical acclaim and are considered some of his finest works. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will be taking a closer look at Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 and exploring its themes, symbols, and stylistic choices.

Summary

Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 is a poem about the aftermath of a failed relationship. The speaker of the poem is a man who is reflecting on his failed relationship with a woman named Jane. The poem is written in three stanzas, with each stanza containing six lines. The speaker of the poem is struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship and is haunted by memories of Jane.

In the first stanza, the speaker talks about how the relationship with Jane was doomed from the start. He talks about how they were like two "disparate trees" trying to grow together. The speaker says that he knew the relationship was going to fail, but he couldn't help himself from trying. He talks about how he "clung to her" even though he knew it was a mistake.

In the second stanza, the speaker talks about how he is haunted by memories of Jane. He talks about how he sees her everywhere he goes, even though she is no longer with him. He says that he can't escape her memory and that it is driving him crazy. He talks about how he wants to forget her, but he can't.

In the third stanza, the speaker talks about how he is trying to move on from Jane. He talks about how he has tried to find other women to fill the void that Jane left, but none of them compare to her. He says that he is still in love with her, even though he knows that the relationship was a failure. The poem ends with the speaker saying that he is "lost without her" and that he will never be able to forget her.

Analysis

Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 is a deeply emotional poem that explores the theme of love and loss. The poem is written in a confessional style, with the speaker sharing his innermost thoughts and emotions with the reader. Berryman's use of language and symbolism is powerful and evokes strong emotions in the reader.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the use of imagery. Berryman uses the metaphor of trees to describe the relationship between the speaker and Jane. The two trees are "disparate" and are unable to grow together. This metaphor is a powerful symbol of the doomed nature of the relationship. The use of the word "cling" is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker is holding onto something that he knows is not good for him.

The use of repetition in the second stanza is also striking. The repetition of the word "her" emphasizes the speaker's obsession with Jane. He sees her everywhere he goes and is unable to escape her memory. The repetition of the word "forget" is also significant, as it suggests that the speaker is trying to forget Jane but is unable to do so. This repetition is a powerful symbol of the speaker's inability to move on from the relationship.

The third stanza is perhaps the most emotional part of the poem. The speaker talks about how he is trying to move on from Jane, but is unable to do so. He talks about how he has tried to find other women to fill the void that Jane left, but none of them compare to her. The use of the word "lost" is significant, as it suggests that the speaker is adrift without Jane. The final line of the poem, "I will never forget her," is a powerful statement of the speaker's enduring love for Jane.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the theme of love and loss. Berryman's use of language and symbolism is masterful, and the poem evokes strong emotions in the reader. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the pain of loss, and it is a work that will resonate with anyone who has loved and lost.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 by John Berryman is a classic poem that has been analyzed and studied by literary scholars for decades. This poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its complex and often surreal imagery. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in Dream Song 86 to understand the deeper meaning behind the poem.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream he had about his father. The dream is vivid and surreal, with the father appearing as a "huge, blue, unkillable bird." The bird is described as having "a beak like a sword" and "eyes like a god." The imagery of the bird is powerful and evocative, suggesting that the father is a powerful and imposing figure in the speaker's life.

As the poem progresses, the speaker reflects on his relationship with his father. He describes how his father was "a man of the world" who "had a way with women." The speaker also acknowledges that his father was "a hard man" who was "not easy to love." This complex relationship between father and son is a central theme of the poem.

The speaker then reflects on his own life, describing himself as "a man of parts" who has "lived a life of sorts." He acknowledges that he has made mistakes and has not always lived up to his potential. However, he also expresses a sense of pride in his accomplishments, stating that he has "done some good things" and has "made some people happy."

Throughout the poem, the speaker uses a variety of literary devices to convey his emotions and ideas. One of the most prominent devices is imagery. The vivid descriptions of the father as a bird and the speaker as a man of parts create powerful visual images that help to convey the complex emotions of the poem.

Another important device used in the poem is repetition. The phrase "Op. posth. no. 9" is repeated several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and structure. This repetition also serves to emphasize the idea that the speaker is reflecting on his life and his relationship with his father.

The use of symbolism is also important in Dream Song 86. The bird can be seen as a symbol of the father's power and influence over the speaker. The fact that the bird is "unkillable" suggests that the father's influence will always be present in the speaker's life, even after his death. The phrase "Op. posth. no. 9" can also be seen as a symbol of the speaker's own mortality, as it suggests that he is reflecting on his life and his legacy.

In conclusion, Dream Song 86: Op. posth. no. 9 is a powerful and complex poem that explores the themes of fatherhood, mortality, and the human experience. Through the use of vivid imagery, repetition, and symbolism, John Berryman creates a poem that is both beautiful and haunting. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience and to convey them in a way that is both meaningful and profound.

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