'Dream Song 119: Fresh-shaven, past months & a picture in New York' by John Berryman

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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968Fresh-shaven, past months & a picture in New York
of Beard Two, I did have Three took off. Well. .
Shadow & act, shadow & act,
Better get white or you' get whacked,
or keep so-called

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 119: Fresh-shaven, past months & a picture in New York by John Berryman

Have you ever read a poem and felt a sudden jolt of recognition? Like the words on the page are speaking directly to you, even though you know they were written by someone else entirely? That's what happened to me when I first read John Berryman's "Dream Song 119: Fresh-shaven, past months & a picture in New York."

This poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a deeply personal and evocative exploration of memory, loss, and the passage of time. At its heart is a simple narrative: the speaker is looking at a photograph of himself taken several months earlier, and reflecting on how much has changed since then. But as with all great poetry, there is much more going on beneath the surface, and it is this depth and complexity that makes "Dream Song 119" such a powerful and enduring work.

Let's start with the title. "Fresh-shaven, past months & a picture in New York." Right away we get a sense of the poem's themes: the passing of time, the ephemeral nature of youth, and the power of memory to transport us to different times and places. The words "fresh-shaven" suggest a young man, perhaps someone just starting out in life, full of hope and possibility. "Past months" implies that this youth has already passed, and that the speaker is now looking back on it with a mixture of nostalgia and regret. And "a picture in New York" sets the scene for the poem: we are in a specific time and place, but also in a larger, more abstract realm of memory and emotion.

The first stanza of the poem introduces us to the speaker's state of mind:

He stared at ruin. Ruin stared straight back.
He thought they was old friends. He felt like a rat.
The ruins were some city's, not his own.

The language here is simple and direct, but also strange and unnerving. The repetition of "ruin" creates a sense of unease, and the line "He felt like a rat" is particularly evocative: we can imagine the speaker scurrying through the rubble of his own life, searching for something he has lost. But what is that something? The next stanza gives us a clue:

He rode a train the night he found the gap
In the scale. It hurt: 'I'm a little chap.'
Who said so? 'I did, my friend.'

The "gap in the scale" could refer to many things: a moment of clarity, a realization of one's own mortality, a sudden sense of insignificance in the face of a vast and uncaring universe. The fact that it "hurt" suggests that this realization was not a pleasant one, but rather a painful and difficult truth to accept. And who is the speaker's friend who tells him he is "a little chap"? Is it himself, speaking to himself? Or is it someone else, someone who understands the speaker's sense of smallness and vulnerability?

The next stanza seems to shift gears somewhat, as the speaker describes looking at the photograph of himself:

He looked into his likeness, hoping it might
Help him recapture something. Nope. All night
They talked of that & lesser things.

The word "likeness" is important here, suggesting that the photograph is not a true representation of the speaker himself, but rather a kind of ghostly double, a shadow of what he once was. And the fact that it does not "help him recapture something" is telling: the speaker is searching for a way to reclaim his lost youth, but the photograph is only a reminder of what he can never have back.

The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic:

The world's events go on & on.
The past is pushed behind, no more to be done,
And all's lit by himself, a devil gone.

What does it mean to say that "all's lit by himself, a devil gone"? Is the speaker suggesting that he is his own light source, illuminating the dark corners of his own psyche? Or is he perhaps implying that he himself is a devil, a fallen angel who has been cast out of paradise? And what does it mean to say that "the past is pushed behind, no more to be done"? Is the speaker resigned to his own mortality, accepting that the past is gone and can never be reclaimed? Or is he simply acknowledging the passage of time, and the fact that life goes on, even in the face of loss and grief?

These are questions that cannot be fully answered, and that is part of what makes "Dream Song 119" such a rich and rewarding poem. John Berryman has given us a snapshot of a moment in time, a glimpse into a mind grappling with the complexities of memory and mortality. And in doing so, he has created a work of art that speaks to us all, reminding us of our own fragility and resilience, our own capacity for hope and despair.

In conclusion, "Dream Song 119: Fresh-shaven, past months & a picture in New York" is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a deeply personal and evocative exploration of memory, loss, and the passage of time. Through simple language and strange, enigmatic imagery, John Berryman has created a work that speaks to us all, reminding us of our own vulnerabilities and strengths, our own hopes and fears. It is a poem that rewards repeated readings, a poem that continues to reveal new layers of meaning and significance with each encounter. If you haven't read it yet, I highly recommend you do so. You won't be disappointed.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Berryman’s Dream Song 119 is a masterpiece of modern poetry that captures the essence of the human experience in a unique and powerful way. This poem is a reflection on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life, as seen through the eyes of the speaker. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of this poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the line “Fresh-shaven, past months & a picture in New York,” which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker is reflecting on a time in the past when he was freshly shaven, and the months that have passed since then. The picture in New York is a symbol of the memories that have been captured and preserved, but also a reminder of the transience of life.

The first stanza of the poem is structured in a way that emphasizes the passage of time. The repetition of the word “past” in the first line, followed by the phrase “past months” in the second line, creates a sense of movement and progression. The use of enjambment, where the line breaks do not coincide with the end of a sentence or clause, also contributes to this feeling of forward momentum.

The second stanza of the poem shifts the focus to the speaker’s current state of mind. The line “I cry out for your hand” suggests a sense of longing or desperation, as if the speaker is reaching out for something that is just out of reach. The use of the word “your” is ambiguous, leaving it up to the reader to decide who or what the speaker is addressing.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic. The line “I am a continent” is a metaphor that is open to interpretation. It could be seen as a statement of the speaker’s individuality and self-sufficiency, or it could be read as a reflection on the vastness and complexity of the human experience.

The final stanza of the poem brings the themes of the previous stanzas together. The line “I have no passport” suggests a sense of being trapped or confined, unable to escape the limitations of one’s own existence. The final line, “I am invisible,” is a powerful statement about the nature of the human condition. Despite our best efforts to leave our mark on the world, we are ultimately insignificant in the grand scheme of things.

One of the most striking aspects of Dream Song 119 is its use of language. Berryman’s writing is dense and complex, with multiple layers of meaning and symbolism. The poem is full of allusions to literature, history, and mythology, which add depth and richness to the text.

For example, the line “I am a continent” could be seen as a reference to the famous line from John Donne’s Meditation XVII: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” This connection to Donne’s work adds another layer of meaning to the poem, highlighting the speaker’s sense of isolation and disconnection from the world around him.

The use of imagery in Dream Song 119 is also noteworthy. The line “a picture in New York” is a vivid image that evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing. The image of the speaker crying out for someone’s hand is also powerful, conveying a sense of desperation and vulnerability.

The structure of the poem is also significant. The use of short stanzas and fragmented sentences creates a sense of disjointedness and instability, reflecting the speaker’s state of mind. The repetition of certain phrases, such as “past months” and “I am,” adds to the sense of rhythm and momentum in the poem.

In conclusion, Dream Song 119 is a powerful and complex work of modern poetry that explores the themes of time, memory, and the human condition. Through its use of language, imagery, and structure, the poem captures the essence of the human experience in a way that is both profound and deeply moving. As readers, we are left with a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty and fragility of life, and a renewed appreciation for the power of poetry to capture the essence of our shared humanity.

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