John Berryman Poems

John Berryman was an American poet and an incredibly important figure in American poetry in the 20th century. He’s part of the confessional school of poetry alongside writers like Anne Sexton and Sylvia Plath. His best-known work is The Dream Songs and includes many free verse poems labeled with numbers.

Dream Song 149

by John Berryman

In ‘Dream Song 149,’ Berryman mourns Delmore’s death and reflects on their profound connection amidst disillusionment with the world.

This poem is a good representation of John Berryman's poems. It showcases many of the key themes and stylistic elements that are characteristic of Berryman's poetry, such as introspection, personal experiences, complex emotions, and a unique blend of colloquial language and formal structure. The poem's exploration of loss, disillusionment, and the power of human connection reflects the depth and complexity found in much of Berryman's work.

This world is gradually becoming a place

where I do not care to be anymore. Can Delmore die?

I don’t suppose

in all them years a day ever went by

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