'Dream Song 129: Thin as a sheet his mother came to him' by John Berryman
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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968Thin as a sheet his mother came to him
during the screaming evenings after he did it,
touched F.J.'s dead hand.
The parlour was dark, he was the first pall-bearer in,
he gave himself a dare & then did it,
the thing was quite unplanned,riots for Henry the unstructured dead,
his older playmate fouled, reaching for him
and never will he be free
from the older boy who died by the cottonwood
& now is to be planted, wise & slim,
as part of Henry's history.Christ waits. That boy was good beyond his years,
he served at Mass like Henry, he never didone extreme thing wrong
but tender his cold hand, latent with Henry's fears
to Henry's shocking touch, whereat he fled
and woke screaming, young & strong.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Dream Song 129: Thin as a sheet his mother came to him by John Berryman
Introduction
Dream Song 129 is a poem written by John Berryman that explores the themes of loss, death, and grief. The poem is a part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is a sequence of 385 poems that were published between 1964 and 1968. Berryman's Dream Songs have been described as "one of the great poetic achievements of the twentieth century" and have been praised for their "complexity, emotional intensity, and formal ingenuity."
Analysis
The poem begins with the speaker describing his mother coming to him in a dream. The mother is described as "thin as a sheet," which suggests that she is either very ill or has already passed away. The speaker's mother then speaks to him in a "voice like a holy whisper," which adds to the sense of spirituality and otherworldliness that permeates the poem.
The next stanza of the poem shifts to a more abstract and philosophical tone. The speaker muses on the nature of death, stating that "death is the mother of beauty." This line is a reference to the poet Wallace Stevens, who wrote a poem with the same title. The speaker goes on to state that death is what makes life meaningful and beautiful, as it gives everything a sense of urgency and importance.
The poem then returns to a more concrete narrative as the speaker describes his mother's body. He notes that her "skin was like paper," which reinforces the idea that she is very sick or has passed away. The speaker then describes the mother's "eyes, which were eyes of such length," which suggests that the mother's gaze was very powerful and intense.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant. The speaker describes his mother's voice as "one of the few things I remember accurately." This line suggests that the speaker has lost many memories of his mother, but her voice remains a constant and vivid presence in his mind. The speaker ends the poem with the simple and heartbreaking phrase "I miss her, all the time."
Interpretation
Dream Song 129 is a deeply personal poem that reflects on the nature of loss and grief. The poem can be read as a meditation on the speaker's relationship with his mother, as well as a broader reflection on the human experience of death and mourning.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea that death is what gives life meaning and beauty. The speaker notes that without death, life would be "a ho-hum affair." This idea is echoed by many religious and philosophical traditions, which view death as a necessary and even positive aspect of the human experience.
The poem also explores the idea of memory and the ways in which we remember those who have passed away. The speaker notes that he has lost many memories of his mother, but her voice remains a vivid and constant presence in his mind. This suggests that memory is a complex and elusive phenomenon, and that our memories of those we have lost can be both powerful and fragile.
Another important aspect of the poem is the use of language and imagery. The poem is full of vivid and evocative descriptions, from the mother's "eyes of such length" to her skin that is "like paper." These images create a powerful sense of atmosphere and emotion, and help to convey the speaker's profound sense of loss and mourning.
Conclusion
Dream Song 129 is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of death, loss, and memory. Through its use of vivid language and imagery, the poem creates a sense of profound emotional intensity that lingers long after the poem has been read. Whether read as a meditation on the speaker's relationship with his mother or as a broader reflection on the human experience of death and mourning, Dream Song 129 is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity and richness of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
John Berryman's "Dream Song 129: Thin as a sheet his mother came to him" is a haunting and deeply personal poem that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the complexities of familial relationships. The poem is part of Berryman's larger collection of Dream Songs, which are known for their surreal and fragmented style, and their exploration of the human psyche.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a dream in which his mother appears to him, "thin as a sheet." This image is immediately striking, as it suggests that the mother is not only physically frail, but also insubstantial, almost ghost-like. The use of the simile "thin as a sheet" also creates a sense of vulnerability and fragility, as if the mother is on the verge of disappearing altogether.
The dream takes place in a hospital, which adds to the sense of unease and foreboding. The speaker describes the hospital as "white" and "clean," but also "cold," which suggests that it is a place of sterility and detachment. The mother is lying in a bed, and the speaker notes that she is "not dead," but also "not alive." This paradoxical statement captures the sense of limbo that the speaker feels in the dream, as if he is caught between life and death, reality and illusion.
The speaker's relationship with his mother is complex and fraught with emotion. He describes her as "the woman who bore him," which suggests a sense of obligation and duty, rather than love or affection. He also notes that she "never cared for him," which suggests a sense of abandonment or neglect. However, despite these negative feelings, the speaker is clearly deeply affected by his mother's appearance in the dream. He notes that he is "shaken" and "terrified" by her presence, which suggests that there is still a deep emotional connection between them, even if it is not a positive one.
The poem then takes a surreal turn, as the speaker describes a series of bizarre and unsettling images. He notes that the hospital is "full of people," but also "empty," which creates a sense of disorientation and confusion. He also describes a "black nurse" who is "smiling," but also "crying," which suggests a sense of emotional turmoil and conflict. These images add to the sense of unease and dislocation that the speaker feels in the dream, as if he is trapped in a world that is both familiar and alien.
The final lines of the poem are perhaps the most haunting and enigmatic. The speaker notes that his mother "rose up" and "disappeared," leaving behind only a "smell of burnt rubber." This image is both surreal and disturbing, as it suggests that the mother has not only vanished, but has also left behind a sense of danger or destruction. The use of the simile "burnt rubber" is particularly striking, as it suggests a sense of violence and trauma.
Overall, "Dream Song 129: Thin as a sheet his mother came to him" is a powerful and deeply affecting poem that explores the complexities of familial relationships and the depths of human emotion. Berryman's use of surreal imagery and fragmented language creates a sense of dislocation and unease, while his exploration of themes such as loss and grief adds a sense of depth and resonance to the poem. Ultimately, the poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience, and to offer a glimpse into the depths of the human soul.
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