Friday, May 10, 2013

The third book:

The first three books were originally published together as "77 Dream Songs" in 1964.  I read Book III today, and here is one of its poems:
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Dream Song 57

By John Berryman

In a state of chortle sin—once he reflected,
swilling tomato juice—live I, and did
more than my thirstier years.
To Hell then will it maul me? for good talk,
and gripe of retail loss?  I dare say not.
I don’t thínk there’s that place

save sullen here, wherefrom she flies tonight
retrieving her whole body, which I need.
I recall a ’coon treed,
flashlights, & barks, and I was in that tree,
and something can (has) been said for sobriety
but very little.

The guns.  Ah, darling, it was late for me,
midnight, at seven.  How in famished youth
could I foresee Henry’s sweet seed
unspent across so flying barren ground,
where would my loves dislimn whose dogs abound?
I fell out of that tree.

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