Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Dream Songs: 4" by John Berryman continues the exploration of Henry's complex inner world, blending humor, desire, and a sense of personal inadequacy. Through the voice of Henry and his alter ego, Mr. Bones, Berryman navigates themes of unrequited attraction, social constraints, and the human penchant for longing for what is out of reach.

The poem opens with a vivid scene of a woman filling "her compact & delicious body / with chicken páprika," immediately setting a tone of physical attraction and desire. Henry's response to her glance—"Fainting with interest, I hungered back"—is both comical and poignant, capturing the intensity of his attraction and the immediacy of his emotional response.

The presence of the woman's husband and other people in the scene creates a barrier to Henry's desires, illustrating the social and moral constraints that often govern human interactions. Berryman humorously portrays Henry's exaggerated longing, imagining himself either attacking her with affection or prostrating himself at her feet, declaring her the object of his intense admiration for "years of night."

Henry's retreat into despair is marked by his turning attention to his spumoni, a metaphor for resignation and the substitution of one form of consumption for another, less satisfying, one. This moment underscores the theme of unfulfilled desire and the ways in which individuals cope with emotional hunger and disappointment.

Mr. Bones's interjection—"Sir Bones: is stuffed, / de world, wif feeding girls"—offers a critique of the world's abundance and the superficial satisfaction it provides, juxtaposed against deeper, unmet emotional needs. The phrase "feeding girls" suggests a critique of consumerism and the commodification of desire.

Berryman's description of the woman—"Black hair, complexion Latin, jewelled eyes / downcast"—adds to her allure and the mystery surrounding her. Henry's observation of the "slob beside her" feasting underscores his disdain for the woman's companion and his own sense of being more deserving of her attention, despite his inaction.

The poem concludes with a reflection on Henry's perennial state of longing and dissatisfaction, questioning "Where did it all go wrong?" This rhetorical question, coupled with the suggestion that "There ought to be a law against Henry," humorously acknowledges Henry's self-destructive tendencies and social ineptitude. Mr. Bones's final remark, "there is," wryly confirms the existence of social and moral codes that implicitly censure Henry's desires and behaviors.

"The Dream Songs: 4" captures the intricacies of human desire, the comedy and tragedy of unrequited love, and the internal dialogues that shape our perceptions of ourselves and our interactions with the world. Berryman masterfully blends lyrical intensity with conversational immediacy, offering a window into the soul of his protagonist and the universal experience of longing and constraint.

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