Book Review: The Dream Songs by John Berryman

Since I’ve been writing more poetry, I’ve been reading more poetry lately. I’ve read some newer stuff, but I’ve also been reading many of the classics, including William Blake, T.S. Eliot, and W.B. Yeats.

I recently read an anthology of 20th century American poetry that was comprehensive regarding the poets it included. One of the poets that struck me the most was John Berryman, and the anthology included poems from his much-celebrated volume called The Dream Songs.

Continue reading “Book Review: The Dream Songs by John Berryman”

Melting Glacier/Ego (a poem)

I got an ego the size of a glacier

but I hope it’s meltin’

like them ones in the Artic

I used to say I was sick

in the head

but that was self-contempt

I’ve since given up –

I’m just like everyone else

a homo sapien not fully evolved

plagued by panic, all that crap –

snap, crackle, pop! I’m locked

in the house, quiet as a mouse

thinking of myself too much

what about thinking of others?

oh brother, here I go again

beating myself up

give it up!

(Photo by Elisa Clairet on Unsplash)

Note: This poem was inspired by a prompt on dVerse to do a “self-portrait.” The title of the post was, “Come and take a selfie!” Here’s a link to the dVerse post where the prompt is!