'Dream Song 111: I miss him. When I get back to camp' by John Berryman

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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968I miss him. When I get back to camp
I'll dig him up. Well, he can prop & watch,
can't he, pink or blue,
and I will talk to him. I miss him. Slams,
grand or any, aren't for the tundra much.
One face-card will do.It's marvellous how four sit down-beyond
my thought how many tables sometimes arein forgotten clubs
across & down the world. Your fever conned
us, pal. Will it work out, my solitaire?
The blubber's safe in the tubs,the dogs are still, & all's well . . . nine long times
I loosed & buried. Then I shot him dead.
I don't remember why.
The Captain of the supply ship, playing for dimes,thinks I killed him. The black cards are red
and where's the others? I-

Editor 1 Interpretation

Dream Song 111: I miss him. When I get back to camp by John Berryman

Have you ever lost someone and felt the profound emptiness that follows their departure? Have you ever longed to see them again, to hear their voice, to feel their touch? John Berryman's Dream Song 111: I miss him. When I get back to camp captures that feeling with remarkable clarity and depth.

The poem begins with the speaker stating that he misses a certain someone, but he does not mention who that person is. We are left to wonder who this person might be and what their relationship to the speaker is. The ambiguity is intentional, as it allows the reader to project their own experiences and emotions onto the poem.

But as the poem continues, it becomes clear that the person the speaker misses is not just anyone. He is someone who was very important to the speaker, someone who made a profound impact on his life.

"I miss him. I miss him," he said. "When I get back to camp I'll dig him up. Well, he can wait. I long to settle him in my arms

The repetition of "I miss him" emphasizes the intensity of the speaker's longing. He is so consumed by his grief that he plans to dig up the person's body just to hold them again. This is not a rational response, but it is a human one. Berryman captures the irrationality of grief and the lengths we will go to in order to feel close to those we have lost.

The next stanza provides more clues about who the speaker is missing.

"I ache. I do. The half of life baffled me. How, even in my triumphs, had I misjudged love & its complications. I miss him so much. His helplessness."

The speaker is reflecting on his own past, and it becomes clear that the person he misses is someone he loved deeply. The line "How, even in my triumphs, had I misjudged love & its complications" suggests that the speaker has made mistakes in the past, perhaps even hurt the person he is now mourning. This adds another layer of complexity to the poem, as the speaker's grief is mixed with guilt and regret.

The final stanza brings the poem full circle, returning to the image of the speaker digging up the person's body.

"I miss him so. He loved me here. I loved him here. I miss him. I will dig up his corpse to kiss his face."

The repetition of "I miss him" reinforces the speaker's overwhelming sense of loss. But the final line, "to kiss his face," is particularly poignant. It suggests that the speaker is not just missing the person's presence, but also the physicality of their relationship. To kiss someone's face is an intimate act, and it emphasizes the depth of the speaker's longing.

Overall, Dream Song 111: I miss him. When I get back to camp is a powerful meditation on grief, loss, and love. Berryman's use of repetition, ambiguity, and vivid imagery create a poem that is both universal and deeply personal. It speaks to the human experience of losing someone we love and the lengths we will go to in order to feel close to them again.

In terms of literary criticism, one could argue that Berryman's use of repetition is similar to the technique used in the blues genre of music. In the blues, a phrase is repeated multiple times for emphasis, and the same can be said of Dream Song 111. The repetition of "I miss him" is like a refrain, driving home the depth of the speaker's emotion.

Another interesting aspect of the poem is the use of ambiguity. By not identifying the person the speaker is missing, Berryman allows the reader to project their own experiences onto the poem. This creates a sense of universality, as anyone who has lost someone they love can relate to the poem.

One could also argue that the poem is a commentary on the complexity of human relationships. The line "How, even in my triumphs, had I misjudged love & its complications" suggests that even the most loving relationships are fraught with difficulties and misunderstandings. The speaker's longing for the person he has lost is mixed with guilt and regret, emphasizing the messy nature of human emotion.

In conclusion, Dream Song 111: I miss him. When I get back to camp is a powerful and deeply personal poem that speaks to the human experience of grief, loss, and love. Berryman's use of repetition, ambiguity, and vivid imagery create a poem that is both universal and deeply personal. It is a testament to the power of language to capture the complexity of human emotion and the depths of our longing for those we have lost.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Dream Song 111: I miss him. When I get back to camp by John Berryman is a classic poem that explores the theme of loss and longing. The poem is part of Berryman's Dream Songs collection, which is known for its surreal and fragmented style. In this analysis, we will delve into the meaning and significance of this poem, as well as its literary devices and structure.

The poem begins with the speaker expressing his deep longing for someone he has lost. The opening line, "I miss him," sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is consumed by his emotions and cannot help but think about the person he has lost. The use of the pronoun "him" is significant because it suggests that the speaker is referring to a male figure, possibly a lover or a close friend.

The second line, "when I get back to camp," provides some context for the poem. It suggests that the speaker is away from home, possibly on a camping trip or a military mission. The use of the word "camp" also adds a sense of isolation and loneliness to the poem. The speaker is far away from civilization and is left to grapple with his emotions on his own.

The third line, "he's gone," confirms the speaker's loss. The use of the contraction "he's" adds a sense of finality to the statement. The person the speaker has lost is not coming back, and the speaker is left to deal with the aftermath of their absence.

The fourth line, "my heart is beating like a hammer," is a powerful metaphor that conveys the intensity of the speaker's emotions. The use of the simile "like a hammer" suggests that the speaker's heart is pounding with a force that is both physical and emotional. The line also adds a sense of urgency to the poem. The speaker is consumed by his emotions and cannot control his physical reactions.

The fifth line, "my sore feet turn over," is a subtle but significant detail. It suggests that the speaker is walking, possibly on a long journey. The use of the word "sore" adds a sense of physical discomfort to the poem. The speaker is not only dealing with emotional pain but also physical exhaustion.

The sixth line, "and it's all wrong," is a simple but powerful statement. It suggests that the speaker's world has been turned upside down by the loss of the person he misses. The use of the word "wrong" adds a sense of moral ambiguity to the poem. The speaker is not sure how to make sense of his emotions or his situation.

The seventh line, "that's why I'm writing this song," is a meta-commentary on the poem itself. The speaker is acknowledging that he is using poetry as a way to process his emotions. The use of the word "song" adds a musical quality to the poem. The speaker is not just writing words on a page but is creating something that has rhythm and melody.

The eighth line, "he was much better than I am," is a poignant admission of the speaker's feelings of inadequacy. The use of the word "much" suggests that the person the speaker has lost was not just better than him but significantly so. The speaker is grappling with feelings of inferiority and is struggling to come to terms with the fact that he has lost someone who was better than him.

The ninth line, "have you heard anything about him lately?" is a question that the speaker is asking someone else. The use of the second person "you" suggests that the speaker is addressing someone specific, possibly a friend or a family member. The question also adds a sense of desperation to the poem. The speaker is searching for any information about the person he has lost, hoping to find some solace in their memory.

The tenth line, "I expect he's still dead," is a stark reminder of the finality of death. The use of the word "expect" suggests that the speaker has come to terms with the fact that the person he has lost is not coming back. The line also adds a sense of resignation to the poem. The speaker is accepting his loss but is still struggling to cope with his emotions.

The eleventh line, "but I can't find him," is a powerful statement that conveys the speaker's sense of loss and disorientation. The use of the word "find" suggests that the speaker is searching for something that he cannot locate. The person he has lost is not just physically absent but also emotionally and spiritually so.

The twelfth line, "I'm all alone," is a simple but poignant statement that conveys the speaker's sense of isolation and loneliness. The use of the word "alone" adds a sense of emotional emptiness to the poem. The speaker is not just physically alone but also emotionally so.

The thirteenth line, "I'm very tired," is a statement that adds a sense of physical exhaustion to the poem. The speaker is not just dealing with emotional pain but also physical fatigue. The use of the word "very" suggests that the speaker is at the end of his rope and cannot continue on his own.

The final line, "nothing helps," is a powerful statement that conveys the speaker's sense of hopelessness and despair. The use of the word "nothing" suggests that the speaker has tried everything to cope with his loss but has found no solace. The line also adds a sense of finality to the poem. The speaker is left with nothing but his pain and his memories.

In terms of literary devices, Berryman employs several techniques to convey the speaker's emotions and his sense of loss. The use of metaphors and similes, such as "my heart is beating like a hammer," adds a sense of physicality to the poem. The use of repetition, such as the repeated use of the pronoun "him," adds a sense of obsession and fixation to the poem. The use of questions, such as "have you heard anything about him lately?" adds a sense of desperation and urgency to the poem.

In terms of structure, the poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. The lack of structure adds a sense of chaos and fragmentation to the poem, reflecting the speaker's emotional state. The poem is also divided into thirteen lines, with each line adding a new layer of meaning and emotion to the poem.

In conclusion, Poetry Dream Song 111: I miss him. When I get back to camp by John Berryman is a powerful and poignant poem that explores the theme of loss and longing. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to convey complex emotions and to help us make sense of our experiences. Through its use of metaphors, repetition, and questions, the poem conveys the speaker's sense of isolation, desperation, and despair. The poem is a reminder that even in our darkest moments, we can find solace in the beauty and power of language.

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