Week #7--Improv

from John Berryman's
"Dream Songs"

14

Life, friends, is boring. We must not say so.
After all, the sky flashes, the great sea yearns,
we ourselves flash and yearn,
and moreover my mother told me as a boy
(repeatingly) ‘Ever to confess you’re bored
means you have no

Inner Resources.’ I conclude now I have no
inner resources, because I am heavy bored.
Peoples bore me,
literature bores me, especially great literature,
Henry bores me, with his plights & gripes
as bad as achilles,

who loves people and valiant art, which bores me.
And the tranquil hills, & gin, look like a drag
and somehow a dog
has taken itself & its tail considerably away
into mountains or sea or sky, leaving
behind: me, wag.

My riff:

-1

Marriage, folks, is delightful. Just believe it’s true.

After all, cats couple, the young birds tweet,

human beings couple and tweet,

and besides my father told me as a girl

(incessantly) ‘Once you’ve made your bed

you have to

Lie In It.’ I concede now I have to

lie in it, because I am sore delighted.

Newlyweds delight me,

ceremonies delight me, especially marriage ceremonies,

Kate delights me, with her ring and a date
as hype as hysteria,

who wins her prince and royal title, which delights me.

And the growling wind, & beer, sound like a burp

and somehow a bird

has flown itself & its voice audibly away

into grass or lake or trees, leaving

behind: me, chirp.