Dream Songs - R. Abbott

From the number of 'Dream Songs' I have read by Jon Berryman, it is very clear that he writes in a rather unorthodox fashion. Most of the poems were written in tercepts, with few quatrains mixed in. But that seemed to be the only standardized part of his writing. Overall the poem were difficult to read quickly with interesting choice of diction, seemingly random over spacing between words ('I feel my application failing' #77), and accente egues thrown onto vowels in several words that did not require and type of accent (his, feel, so, would). Berryman's grammar was odd, which honestly appeased me and gave it a more personal feel. His usage of colloquial terms like "hafta" for have to, "de" for the, and "wif" for with serve as examples of this. There is virtually no set rhyme scheme, but Berryman does exercise end and internal rhyme is some situations, most likely to attract attention. In the 'Dream Songs,' Berryman has created perhaps and alter-ego named Henry and tells and ongoing tale of his life in the majority of the poems. The tone of the poems ranges from humorous (#3), to loving (#4), to even suicidal and depressing towards the end (#74). In these demented, elaborate tales of Henry, Berryman writes about his thoughts of past wives and his daughter, but they left me somewhat confused on the whole.