AR on Walt Whitman

ELEMENTS OF WALT WHITMAN'S POETRY

INTRODUCTION

Born on May 31, 1819, as the second son of Walter Whitman, Walt Whitman began his love for
writing at the age of 12. Pursuing his love for writing, he got himself acquainted with great
writers like homer, Dante and Shakespeare and their works. He then founded a weekly
newspaper in 1848 after working in one. In 1855, the first edition of his 'Leaves of Grass' was
published which was made of 3 poems, Song o/Afy^e;/inclusive. Working at the hospitals during
the outbreak of the civil war around the late 1860's was an inspiration to his writings. He spent
his late years working on additions and revisions to a new edition of the book and preparing his
final volumes of poems and prose.

This poem, 'Song of Myself' by Walt Whitman is a journey and realisation of one's self. Its
journey is described and divided into 52 parts. The poem is an explication of the poet himself.
He enjoys the comfort of himself, relaxing and appreciating the environment he finds himself in.
he takes time to give us a detailed analysis of himself. He also does an appreciation of nature.
The 'self in this poem is an entity who is constant through all the events and experiences which
are an essential part of life. In subsequent paragraphs, I shall be describing what I find
interesting in Walt Whitman's 'song of myself.

His use of imagery is exceptional in the poem as he describes in details his environment and
nature. He describes the air, sounds, smells and nature in general.

'Houses and rooms are full of perfumes; the shelves are crowded with perfumes.....

The atmosphere is not a perfume, it has no taste of the distillation, it is odourless...

The sniff of green leaves and dry leaves and of the shore and dark color 'd sea rocks and of hay
in the barn....

He uses this imagery to allow the reader to see, follow and delve into his feelings and to see the
comparison between these feelings and the metaphors which he is using to express them. The
use of detailed imagery allows the readers of this poem to in sync with the poet and pierce into
the mind of the poet to see what he sees. It could be said that reading this poem makes a
reader realise the essence of piercing into one's self in order to view and appreciate the world
around him or her. Certain phrases and words the whitman uses, gives it readers a sense of
feeling
'Light kisses'. 'embraces ', reaching around of arms

These things allow the readers to feel what the poet also feels. Walt Whitman uses extensive
amounts of imagery in the poem in order to allow his surroundings take part in his own self. He
makes the reader understand what is going on through the use of visual, tactile and auditory
images to which they can easily relate.

Another interesting thing about this poem is the romantic style adopted. Just like the famous
African/Nigerian poet Niyi Osundare, who is renowned for his prowess in the appreciation of
nature and his immediate environment, Walt Whitman is also one with nature and it reflects in
his poetry. In section 32, the poet persona expresses his desire to live amongst the animals.

'I think I could turn and live with the animals; they are so placid and self contain'd. I stand and
look at them long and long'

He presents a view of life where there is a close relationship between humanity (Man) and
nature. What is very interesting is his ability to show and portray this connection with nature.
Throughout this series of poems, Whitman presents a view of life where humanity enjoys an
incredibly close relationship with nature, so close, in fact, that even when he imagines himself
dying in Section 52 he believes that this 'will not impact upon his own sense of identity, as the
following quote describes:

I depart as air... I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,

I effuse my flesh in eddies and drift it in lacy jags.

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,

If you -want me again look for me under your bootsoles.

Even though death is described as a "departure” at the beginning of this quote, at the same time
it is also described as a kind of mystical union with nature, as Whitman imagines “bequeathing”'
himself to the earth. Even though he will be dead, the final line of this quote presents a very
clear sense of tangible identity that remains even after this “death."

Romanticism is therefore present in one sense through this very clear union with nature that
exists throughout these poems, and challenges accepted notions of man's relationship with the
natural world around him and pushes the boundaries of that relationship.

Poem Themes

American Democracy
'Song of Myself was first published in 1855. You'll remember from history class that this was a
tumultuous period in America. A lot of things were looking great - the railroads -were starting to
connect people and goo^ from all around the country, commerce and technology were booming
and new -waves of immigration were bringing never-before-seen religious and ethnic diversity.
At the same time, the country was already sharply divided on the issue of slavery, and the Civil
War was looming. Like many people, Whitman was excited about what the U.S. could be - a
place of freedom for all - and concerned about what was actually happening - a lot of injustice
and internal division. fSong of Myself is part vision, part plea for a democratic society where all
are equal.

Spirituality and Self-Knowledge

Whitman can get lost in the grandeur of space or the tiniest details on a blade of grass, and he
meditates on these with a passion that feels deeply spiritual. His democratic vision of the
inherent equality and goodness of all life is more than just a party line - it's a worldview in which
he's deeply invested.
O Me! O Life!
BY ​WALT WHITMAN

Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,

Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?

​ Answer.

That you are here—that life exists and identity,

That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.