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John Berryman - Dream Song 45: He stared at ruin. Ruin stared straight back

He stared at ruin. Ruin stared straight back.
He thought they was old friends. He felt on the stair
where her papa found them bare
they became familiar. When the papers were lost
rich with pals' secrets, he thought he had the knack
of ruin. Their paths crossed

and once they crossed in jail; they crossed in bed;
and over an unsigned letter their eyes met,
and in an Asian city
directionless & lurchy at two & three,
or trembling to a telephone's fresh threat,
and when some wired his head

to reach a wrong opinion, 'Epileptic'.
But he noted now that: they were not old friends.
He did not know this one.
This one was a stranger, come to make amends
for all the imposters, and to make it stick.
Henry nodded, un-.

Added: Feb 20 2003 | Viewed: 893 times | Comments and analysis of Dream Song 45: He stared at ruin. Ruin stared straight back by John Berryman Comments (0)


Dream Song 45: He stared at ruin. Ruin stared straight back - Comments and Information

Poet: John Berryman
Poem: 45. Dream Song 45: He stared at ruin. Ruin stared straight back
Volume: 77 Dream Songs
Year: Published/Written in 1964
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