S2:3 EP12: Dreams and Praise: The Poetry of John Berryman

On this episode Katie and her husband Chris dive into the poetry of John Berryman, discussing his famous Dream Songs as well as his beautiful late poetry (11 Addresses to the Lord). 

 

"Master of beauty, craftsman of the snowflake,

inimitable contriver,

endower of Earth so gorgeous & different from the boring Moon,

thank you for such as it is my gift.

 

I have made up a morning prayer to you

containing with precision everything that most matters.

‘According to Thy will’ the thing begins.

It took me off & on two days. It does not aim at eloquence.

 

You have come to my rescue again & again

in my impassable, sometimes despairing years.

You have allowed my brilliant friends to destroy themselves

and I am still here, severely damaged, but functioning.

 

Unknowable, as I am unknown to my guinea pigs:

how can I ‘love’ you?

I only as far as gratitude & awe

confidently & absolutely go."

 

More at: www.bornofwonder.com 

 

11 Addresses to the Lord: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48948/eleven-addresses-to-the-lord 

 

Tonight by Sibylle Baier 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY_F0mPq7ec