'Apostroph' by Walt Whitman

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O MATER! O fils!
O brood continental!
O flowers of the prairies!
O space boundless! O hum of mighty products!
O you teeming cities! O so invincible, turbulent, proud!
O race of the future! O women!
O fathers! O you men of passion and the storm!
O native power only! O beauty!
O yourself! O God! O divine average!
O you bearded roughs! O bards! O all those slumberers!10
O arouse! the dawn bird's throat sounds shrill! Do you not hear the
cock crowing?
O, as I walk'd the beach, I heard the mournful notes foreboding a
tempest--the low, oft-repeated shriek of the diver, the long-
lived loon;
O I heard, and yet hear, angry thunder;--O you sailors! O ships! make
quick preparation!
O from his masterful sweep, the warning cry of the eagle!
(Give way there, all! It is useless! Give up your spoils;)
O sarcasms! Propositions! (O if the whole world should prove indeed a
sham, a sell!)
O I believe there is nothing real but America and freedom!
O to sternly reject all except Democracy!
O imperator! O who dare confront you and me?
O to promulgate our own! O to build for that which builds for
mankind!20
O feuillage! O North! O the slope drained by the Mexican sea!
O all, all inseparable--ages, ages, ages!
O a curse on him that would dissever this Union for any reason
whatever!
O climates, labors! O good and evil! O death!
O you strong with iron and wood! O Personality!
O the village or place which has the greatest man or woman! even if
it be only a few ragged huts;
O the city where women walk in public processions in the streets, the
same as the men;
O a wan and terrible emblem, by me adopted!
O shapes arising! shapes of the future centuries!
O muscle and pluck forever for me!30
O workmen and workwomen forever for me!
O farmers and sailors! O drivers of horses forever for me!
O I will make the new bardic list of trades and tools!
O you coarse and wilful! I love you!
O South! O longings for my dear home! O soft and sunny airs!
O pensive! O I must return where the palm grows and the mocking-bird
sings, or else I die!
O equality! O organic compacts! I am come to be your born poet!
O whirl, contest, sounding and resounding! I am your poet, because I
am part of you;
O days by-gone! Enthusiasts! Antecedents!
O vast preparations for These States! O years!40
O what is now being sent forward thousands of years to come!
O mediums! O to teach! to convey the invisible faith!
To promulge real things! to journey through all The States!
O creation! O to-day! O laws! O unmitigated adoration!
O for mightier broods of orators, artists, and singers!
O for native songs! carpenter's, boatman's, ploughman's songs!
shoemaker's songs!
O haughtiest growth of time! O free and extatic!
O what I, here, preparing, warble for!
O you hastening light! O the sun of the world will ascend, dazzling,
and take his height--and you too will ascend;
O so amazing and so broad! up there resplendent, darting and
burning;50
O prophetic! O vision staggered with weight of light! with pouring
glories!
O copious! O hitherto unequalled!
O Libertad! O compact! O union impossible to dissever!
O my Soul! O lips becoming tremulous, powerless!
O centuries, centuries yet ahead!
O voices of greater orators! I pause--I listen for you
O you States! Cities! defiant of all outside authority! I spring at
once into your arms! you I most love!
O you grand Presidentiads! I wait for you!
New history! New heroes! I project you!
Visions of poets! only you really last! O sweep on! sweep on!60
O Death! O you striding there! O I cannot yet!
O heights! O infinitely too swift and dizzy yet!
O purged lumine! you threaten me more than I can stand!
O present! I return while yet I may to you!
O poets to come, I depend upon you!

Editor 1 Interpretation

A Deep Dive into Walt Whitman's Apostroph

Have you ever felt the need to talk to the universe? To express your gratitude, your anger, your sadness, your joy to the world around you? Walt Whitman's Apostroph gives voice to this impulse, allowing us to pour out our souls to the "dearest mother" that is nature, the "dear love" that is America, and the "dear son" that is humanity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we'll explore the themes, imagery, and language of this classic poem, and try to uncover its deeper meanings and resonances.

The Poem in Context

Before we dive into the poem itself, let's situate it in its historical and cultural context. Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist, who is often considered one of the most influential and innovative voices in American literature. He is best known for his collection of poems, Leaves of Grass, which he revised and expanded throughout his life, and which is now considered a seminal work of American poetry.

Apostroph was published in the seventh edition of Leaves of Grass, which was released in 1881. This was a time of great change and upheaval in America, with the country recovering from the Civil War and Reconstruction, and facing rapid industrialization, urbanization, and immigration. Whitman, who had served as a nurse during the Civil War and witnessed the horrors of that conflict, was deeply concerned with the fate of America and humanity as a whole. His poetry reflects his belief in the unity and interconnectedness of all things, and his celebration of the life force that animates the universe.

Themes

At its core, Apostroph is a poem about love. Love for nature, for America, for humanity, and for life itself. The poet addresses these entities as if they were living beings, and pours out his heart to them in a language that is passionate, exuberant, and at times ecstatic. The themes that emerge from this outpouring of love are manifold, and can be summarized as follows:

• Unity: the poem celebrates the interconnectedness of all things, and sees nature, America, and humanity as part of a seamless whole.
• Vitality: the poem exalts the life force that animates the universe, and sees it as a source of joy, wonder, and renewal.
• Gratitude: the poem expresses the poet's deep gratitude for the blessings that have been bestowed upon him, and for the beauty and richness of the world he inhabits.
• Hope: the poem expresses the poet's hope for a better future, for a world in which love and harmony prevail over hatred and division.
• Transcendence: the poem suggests that by communing with nature, America, and humanity, we can transcend our limited selves and connect with something greater and more profound.

Imagery

The imagery of Apostroph is rich and varied, and reflects the poet's belief in the unity and vitality of all things. Some of the key images that emerge from the poem are:

• The earth: the poet addresses the earth as a living being, and celebrates its fertility, its beauty, and its power to sustain and nourish life.
• The sky: the poet addresses the sky as a living being, and celebrates its vastness, its beauty, and its power to inspire and uplift us.
• The sea: the poet addresses the sea as a living being, and celebrates its mystery, its power, and its ability to connect us with distant lands and peoples.
• America: the poet addresses America as a living being, and celebrates its diversity, its freedom, and its potential to embody the best of human aspirations.
• Humanity: the poet addresses humanity as a son, and celebrates its capacity for love, for creativity, and for transcendence.

Language

The language of Apostroph is passionate, exuberant, and at times ecstatic. Whitman uses a free verse form that allows him to experiment with rhythm, syntax, and sound, and that gives his words a sense of spontaneity and energy. Some of the key features of the language of Apostroph are:

• Repetition: the poem is full of repeated phrases and words, such as "dear love," "dear son," and "dearest mother," that create a sense of emphasis, of incantation, and of unity.
• Catalogs: the poem is full of lists of things, such as "cities, graves, shops, work, farms," that create a sense of abundance, of diversity, and of interconnectedness.
• Anaphora: the poem is full of phrases that begin with the same word, such as "O my," "O earth," and "O America," that create a sense of urgency, of intimacy, and of address.
• Sensuousness: the poem is full of images that appeal to the senses, such as "the cool fresh breeze in the day," "the delicious singing of the mother-birds," and "the smell of the shore and the salt mud of the tide," that create a sense of immediacy, of presence, and of joy.

Interpretation

So what does it all mean? What is Whitman trying to tell us with his ecstatic outpouring of love and praise? There are many possible interpretations of Apostroph, and each reader will bring their own experiences, beliefs, and emotions to the poem. However, I would like to offer a few suggestions that might help us uncover some of its deeper meanings and resonances.

First and foremost, I believe that Apostroph is a poem about connection. Whitman wants us to feel connected to the earth, to the sky, to the sea, to America, and to humanity, and he wants us to feel the joy and the wonder that comes from that sense of connection. By addressing these entities as if they were living beings, he invites us to see them as part of ourselves, as part of our own being, and as part of a larger whole.

Secondly, I believe that Apostroph is a poem about gratitude. Whitman wants us to feel grateful for the blessings that have been bestowed upon us, and for the beauty and richness of the world we inhabit. By celebrating the earth, the sky, the sea, America, and humanity, he invites us to see them as gifts, as treasures, and as sources of wonder and awe.

Thirdly, I believe that Apostroph is a poem about hope. Whitman wants us to believe in a better future, a future in which love and harmony prevail over hatred and division. By addressing humanity as a son, he invites us to see ourselves as part of a larger family, and he suggests that we can work together to create a world in which all are loved and all are free.

Finally, I believe that Apostroph is a poem about transcendence. Whitman wants us to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be, as it should be, as it might be. By using language that is passionate, exuberant, and ecstatic, he invites us to see beyond the limitations of our ordinary selves, and to connect with something greater and more profound.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Apostroph is a poem that invites us to connect with the world around us, to feel grateful for its blessings, to hope for a better future, and to transcend our limited selves. It is a poem that celebrates the beauty, the diversity, and the interconnectedness of all things, and that invites us to see ourselves as part of a larger whole. By addressing the earth, the sky, the sea, America, and humanity as if they were living beings, Whitman creates a sense of intimacy, of urgency, and of address that is both powerful and moving. This is a poem that speaks to the heart and the soul, and that reminds us of the joy and the wonder that is available to us if only we open our eyes, our ears, and our hearts to the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Walt Whitman's "Poetry Apostroph" is a classic piece of literature that has stood the test of time. This poem is a celebration of poetry and its power to inspire and uplift the human spirit. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in this poem to understand its significance and impact on the world of literature.

The poem begins with an apostrophe, a figure of speech in which the poet addresses an absent or imaginary person or thing. In this case, Whitman addresses poetry itself, personifying it as a living entity. He says, "Oh, divine, delicious, and indescribable poetry!" This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is filled with adjectives that describe poetry in glowing terms.

Whitman goes on to describe poetry as "the voice of the soul," which is a powerful statement. He suggests that poetry is not just a form of artistic expression but a means of connecting with the deepest parts of ourselves. He says that poetry "comes from the heart," which implies that it is an authentic expression of our innermost thoughts and feelings.

The imagery used in this poem is vivid and evocative. Whitman describes poetry as "the sea of the unconscious," which is a metaphor for the vastness and depth of the human psyche. He also compares poetry to a "great ship," which suggests that it can carry us to new and unexplored places. These images create a sense of wonder and awe, as if poetry is a mystical force that can transport us to another realm.

Whitman also uses language that is both poetic and philosophical. He says that poetry is "the light of the world," which suggests that it has the power to illuminate our lives and show us the way forward. He also describes poetry as "the mother of beauty," which implies that it is the source of all that is beautiful and good in the world.

One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its use of repetition. Whitman repeats the phrase "Oh, divine, delicious, and indescribable poetry!" several times throughout the poem. This repetition creates a sense of rhythm and musicality, which is fitting for a poem about poetry. It also emphasizes the importance of poetry and reinforces the idea that it is a powerful force in our lives.

Another notable feature of this poem is its use of exclamation marks. Whitman uses them liberally throughout the poem, which gives it a sense of urgency and excitement. It's as if he is urging us to pay attention to the power of poetry and to embrace it fully.

In conclusion, Walt Whitman's "Poetry Apostroph" is a beautiful and inspiring poem that celebrates the power of poetry. Through vivid imagery, poetic language, and repetition, Whitman creates a sense of wonder and awe around this art form. He suggests that poetry is not just a means of artistic expression but a way of connecting with our deepest selves and with the world around us. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry and its ability to inspire and uplift us, even after all these years.

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