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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"Fifteenth Anniversary: John Berryman" by David Wojahn is a reflective and personal homage to the complex figure of John Berryman, an influential American poet known for his turbulent life and innovative work, notably "The Dream Songs." The poem intertwines Wojahn's personal memories as a college student with his broader reflections on Berryman's legacy, offering a nuanced portrait of the poet's impact on both his contemporaries and subsequent generations. Set in January 1987, fifteen years after Berryman's tragic suicide in 1972, Wojahn recalls standing on the Washington Avenue Bridge—the site of Berryman's death—reflecting on his own experiences as a student in Berryman's class. This setting becomes a symbolic space, linking the personal and historical, the living and the dead. Wojahn's admission that he "feared" Berryman, along with the rest of his class, captures the poet's imposing presence and the volatility that characterized his later years. Wojahn vividly recounts Berryman's erratic behavior, from sleeping through lectures to his solitary, tremulous presence at a drugstore lunch counter. These glimpses into Berryman's daily struggles with alcoholism and depression offer a stark contrast to the intellectual rigor and creativity that defined his work. The choice of the "country's ugliest bridge" for Berryman's suicide is presented not just as a fact but as a poignant detail in the landscape of Wojahn's own life, a place of aimless wandering and reflection. The poem then shifts to the reception of Berryman's work, acknowledging the criticisms and challenges it faces from Wojahn's students and the wider literary community. Yet, despite acknowledging Berryman's uneven output, Wojahn's personal connection to "The Dream Songs" is evident. His description of being "eighteen, and dazed on Pakistani hash," discovering the collection in a commune bedroom, captures a moment of profound literary awakening, a testament to Berryman's enduring influence despite his personal failings and the fluctuating critical reception of his work. Wojahn's narrative is deeply personal, emphasizing that the poem is "not for" Berryman but rather a reflection on his own encounter with the poet's work and its lasting impact. The vivid imagery of reading "The Dream Songs" by flashlight while working as a watchman, the "pages wreathed in yellow light," symbolizes the illumination that Berryman's work provided in Wojahn's life, a source of inspiration and contemplation amid the routine of daily existence. "Fifteenth Anniversary: John Berryman" is a meditation on the intersections of life, art, and memory. Wojahn navigates the complexities of Berryman's legacy with empathy and critical insight, acknowledging the poet's profound influence while also confronting the realities of his troubled life. Through this deeply personal lens, the poem offers a nuanced exploration of the ways in which great art can transcend the limitations and contradictions of its creator, resonating with new generations and continuing to inspire despite the passage of time. POEM TEXT: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/browse?contentId=36999
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