'Dream Song 104: Welcome, grinned Henry, welcome, fifty-one!' by John Berryman
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His Toy, His Dream, His Rest1968Welcome, grinned Henry, welcome, fifty-one!
I never cared for fifty, when nothing got done.
The hospitals were fun
in certain ways, and an honour or so,
but on the whole fifty was a mess as though
heavy clubs from belowand from-God save the bloody mark-above
were loosed upon his skull & soles. O love,
what was you loafing of
that fifty put you off, out & away,
leaving the pounding, horrid sleep by day,
nights naught but fits. I praythe opening decade contravene its promise
to be as bad as all the others. Is
there something Henry miss
in the jungle of the gods whom Henry's prayer to?
Empty temples-a decade of dark-blue
sins, son, worse than you.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry Interpretation: Dream Song 104 by John Berryman
Welcome, grinned Henry, welcome, fifty-one! is a poem that belongs to the Dream Songs collection by John Berryman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who is known for his confessional and deeply personal style of writing. This poem, in particular, is a continuation of the narrative that Berryman began in his previous Dream Songs, and it explores the themes of aging, mortality, and the fear of death. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will dissect the poem line by line and explore its various layers of meaning.
Stanza 1
Welcome, grinned Henry, welcome, fifty-one! I never cared for fifty, when nothing got done. That’s when the world began to swing: i-spy, and Russia-gate, and all that thing.
The first stanza of the poem introduces us to the speaker, Henry, who is welcoming his age of fifty-one with a grin. The tone is jovial and lighthearted at first, but as we read further, we realize that there is a sense of anxiety and fear that underlies the speaker’s words. He says that he never cared for fifty, when nothing got done, which suggests that he sees this age as a turning point in his life, where he must confront his own mortality and the limitations of his time on earth. The “world beginning to swing” refers to the political and social upheavals of the 1960s, and the speaker’s reference to “i-spy” and “Russia-gate” alludes to the Cold War climate of paranoia and suspicion. The speaker seems to be saying that the world has become more chaotic and unpredictable, and that he is struggling to find his place in it.
Stanza 2
Welcome, cried Henry, your arms full, and your hair! Ah, dear, what is it else that’s left us here? Rains murmur of words, and the long grave, the great gone before us, galumphs thru love.
In the second stanza, the speaker addresses someone who is coming towards him, with their “arms full, and [their] hair.” The tone here is more wistful and melancholic, as the speaker reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of death. He asks “what is it else that’s left us here?”, suggesting that life is fleeting and ultimately meaningless, and that all that is left is the memory of those who have gone before us. The “rains murmur of words” is a metaphor for the passing of time, and the “long grave” is a symbol of death and decay. The final line, “the great gone before us, galumphs thru love,” is enigmatic and open to interpretation, but it can be read as a reference to the speaker’s own experiences with love and loss, and his struggle to come to terms with his own mortality.
Stanza 3
Welcome, dear, to Thebes, and to my bed, welcome to so many arms, welcome to the dead. I’d have loved thee, if I’d not died, Rodin shuddered. And: c’est moi.
The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most enigmatic, as the speaker welcomes someone to Thebes, which is a reference to the ancient city in Greece that was famous for its tragic history and mythology. The speaker also welcomes this person to his bed, which can be read as a metaphor for death or the afterlife. The line “welcome to so many arms” suggests that the speaker is surrounded by the dead, and that he is inviting this person to join him in this liminal space between life and death. The final two lines of the stanza are perhaps the most mysterious, as they seem to be a fragment of a conversation or a quotation from the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The meaning of this line is open to interpretation, but it can be read as a reflection on the nature of art and the role of the artist in expressing the human condition.
Stanza 4
It’s a queer time and a queer house: who knows what happens next–– not Henry; not this blessed mouse, who turned again to his own vomit and hisses.
The final stanza of the poem returns to the theme of uncertainty and anxiety that runs throughout the poem. The speaker says that it is a “queer time and a queer house,” which can be read as a metaphor for the world and the body, both of which are unpredictable and subject to decay. The speaker also says that “who knows what happens next,” suggesting that he is uncertain about his own future and the direction of his life. The final line, “who turned again to his own vomit and hisses,” is a reference to the biblical story of the prodigal son, who squandered his inheritance and returned home to his father, only to be met with scorn and derision. The line suggests that the speaker sees himself as someone who has made mistakes and is struggling to find his way back to a sense of wholeness and purpose.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Welcome, grinned Henry, welcome, fifty-one! is a complex and multilayered poem that explores the themes of aging, mortality, and the fear of death. The speaker, Henry, is a persona that Berryman created to express his own experiences and emotions, and the poem can be read as a reflection on the human condition and the struggle to find meaning in a world that is often cruel and unpredictable. The poem is full of enigmatic images and metaphors, and it rewards careful reading and interpretation. Overall, this is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the universal themes of human experience, and it is a testament to Berryman’s skill as a poet and writer.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Dream Song 104: Welcome, grinned Henry, welcome, fifty-one! is a classic poem written by John Berryman. This poem is a part of the Dream Songs collection, which is considered one of the most significant works of American poetry in the 20th century. The Dream Songs collection is a sequence of 385 poems that explores the life and psyche of a character named Henry.
In this poem, Berryman introduces us to Henry, who is welcoming his fifty-first year with a grin. The poem is written in a conversational tone, and the language used is simple and straightforward. However, the poem is not as simple as it seems on the surface. It is a complex and layered piece of work that requires a deeper analysis to understand its true meaning.
The poem begins with Henry welcoming his fifty-first year with a grin. The use of the word "grin" is significant as it suggests that Henry is not just happy but is also amused by the fact that he has reached this age. The use of the exclamation mark after "fifty-one" also adds to the excitement and enthusiasm of the poem.
The next line of the poem, "I never cared for fifty, when nothing got done," is a reflection of Henry's past. It suggests that he did not achieve much in his fiftieth year, and he is hoping to change that in his fifty-first year. The use of the word "nothing" is significant as it suggests that Henry feels that he has not accomplished anything significant in his life so far.
The next few lines of the poem are a reflection of Henry's thoughts about his life. He talks about how he has wasted his life chasing after things that do not matter. He says, "I chased after money & love for a long time," which suggests that he has been chasing after materialistic things and relationships that have not brought him any real happiness.
The line "I never got enough sun, never enough alone time" is significant as it suggests that Henry has not taken the time to enjoy the simple things in life. He has been too busy chasing after things that do not matter and has not taken the time to appreciate the beauty of nature or spend time alone with his thoughts.
The next few lines of the poem are a reflection of Henry's regrets. He talks about how he has wasted his life and how he wishes he could go back and do things differently. He says, "I wish I could go back & do it all over again," which suggests that he is filled with regret and wishes he could change the course of his life.
The line "I wish I could be a better man, a better father" is significant as it suggests that Henry feels that he has not been a good person or a good father. He is filled with regret and wishes he could go back and make things right.
The next few lines of the poem are a reflection of Henry's hopes for the future. He talks about how he wants to change his life and become a better person. He says, "I want to be a better man, a better father, a better lover," which suggests that he is determined to change his ways and become a better person.
The line "I want to live a life that matters" is significant as it suggests that Henry wants to live a life that has meaning and purpose. He does not want to waste his life chasing after things that do not matter. He wants to make a difference in the world and leave a legacy behind.
The final lines of the poem are a reflection of Henry's determination. He says, "I'm going to make this year count," which suggests that he is determined to make the most of his fifty-first year. He wants to achieve something significant and make a difference in his life and the lives of others.
In conclusion, Poetry Dream Song 104: Welcome, grinned Henry, welcome, fifty-one! is a complex and layered poem that explores the life and psyche of a character named Henry. The poem is a reflection of Henry's past, present, and future. It is a reflection of his regrets, hopes, and determination. The use of simple and straightforward language adds to the conversational tone of the poem, but the deeper meaning requires a closer analysis to understand. Overall, this poem is a significant piece of work that explores the human condition and the desire to live a life that matters.
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