'The World Below The Brine' by Walt Whitman
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THE world below the brine;
Forests at the bottom of the sea--the branches and leaves,
Sea-lettuce, vast lichens, strange flowers and seeds--the thick
tangle, the openings, and the pink turf,
Different colors, pale gray and green, purple, white, and gold--the
play of light through the water,
Dumb swimmers there among the rocks--coral, gluten, grass, rushes--
and the aliment of the swimmers,
Sluggish existences grazing there, suspended, or slowly crawling
close to the bottom,
The sperm-whale at the surface, blowing air and spray, or disporting
with his flukes,
The leaden-eyed shark, the walrus, the turtle, the hairy sea-leopard,
and the sting-ray;
Passions there--wars, pursuits, tribes--sight in those ocean-depths--
breathing that thick-breathing air, as so many do;
The change thence to the sight here, and to the subtle air breathed
by beings like us, who walk this sphere;10
The change onward from ours, to that of beings who walk other
spheres.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The World Below The Brine: An Exploration of Walt Whitman's Poetic Genius
When it comes to poetry, few names stand out like that of Walt Whitman. The American poet, essayist, and journalist is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of American literature. His works, particularly "Leaves of Grass," have been celebrated for their unconventional style, their vivid imagery, and their celebration of democracy, nature, and the human spirit.
One of Whitman's lesser-known poems is "The World Below The Brine," a short but powerful piece that explores the mysteries of the ocean and the creatures that inhabit it. In this literary criticism, we will analyze this poem in detail, examining its themes, structure, and language, and exploring what it tells us about Whitman's worldview and his poetic genius.
Overview and Context
"The World Below The Brine" was first published in 1860 as part of a collection of poems called "Drum-Taps." The collection was written during the American Civil War and reflects Whitman's experiences as a volunteer nurse in the Union army. The poems deal with themes of war, death, and patriotism, but also contain some of Whitman's most lyrical and imaginative writing.
"The World Below The Brine," however, stands out as a departure from the war-related themes of the rest of the collection. Instead, it offers a vivid and evocative portrayal of the ocean and the life that exists beneath its surface. The poem is structured in two stanzas of equal length, each composed of ten lines of free verse. The first stanza describes the ocean and the creatures that inhabit it, while the second stanza reflects on the beauty and mystery of this hidden world.
Analysis and Interpretation
Stanza 1: The Ocean and Its Creatures
The first stanza of "The World Below The Brine" is a masterpiece of descriptive writing. Through a series of vivid images and metaphors, Whitman paints a picture of the ocean and its inhabitants that is both beautiful and awe-inspiring.
The stanza begins with a simple but evocative image:
The world below the brine,
Forests at the bottom of the sea, the branches and leaves,
Sea-lettuce, vast lichens, strange flowers and seeds,
the thick tangle openings, and pink turf,
Different colors, pale gray and green, purple, white, and gold
the play of light through the water,
dumb swimmers there among the rocks,
coral, gluten, grass, rushes, and the aliment of the swimmers,
Sluggish existences grazing there suspended, or slowly crawling close to the bottom,
The sperm-whale at the surface blowing air and spray, or disporting with his flukes,
The leaden-eyed shark, the walrus, the turtle, the hairy sea-leopard, and the sting-ray;
Passions there, wars, pursuits, tribes, sight in those ocean-depths, breathing that thick-breathing air, as so many do;
This opening line immediately sets the tone for the poem. The phrase "the world below the brine" suggests a hidden and mysterious realm, one that is not easily accessible to human beings. The following lines build on this sense of wonder, describing a landscape that is both familiar and strange at the same time. We see forests at the bottom of the sea, complete with branches and leaves, and strange flowers and seeds that seem to come from another world. The sea is full of life, with different colors and shades of gray, green, purple, white, and gold. The play of light through the water creates a beautiful and hypnotic effect, as if the whole ocean is a living, breathing organism.
But as the stanza continues, it becomes clear that the ocean is not just a place of beauty and wonder. There are "dumb swimmers" among the rocks, and "sluggish existences" grazing at the bottom of the sea. There are also predators, such as the sperm-whale and the shark, and creatures that seem almost mythical, like the walrus, turtle, and sea-leopard. The final line of the stanza hints at something deeper and more profound, suggesting that there are "passions there, wars, pursuits, tribes" in this hidden world, just as there are in the human world.
Stanza 2: The Beauty and Mystery of the Ocean
The second stanza of "The World Below The Brine" is more introspective than the first. It reflects on the beauty and mystery of the ocean and what it means to human beings.
The stanza begins with the lines:
What do you think has become of the young and old men?
And what do you think has become of the women and children?
They are alive and well somewhere,
The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,
And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it,
And ceas’d the moment life appear’d.
These lines suggest that the world below the brine is not just a physical realm, but a spiritual one as well. The poem seems to be saying that life does not end with death, but continues in some form or another. Even the smallest sprout shows that there is no true death, only a continuation of life. This idea is reinforced by the next few lines:
All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,
And to die is different from what anyone supposed, and luckier.
Here, Whitman seems to be suggesting that death is not an end, but a continuation of the cycle of life. It is something to be embraced, not feared, because it leads to a new beginning.
The stanza then concludes with the following lines:
Has any one supposed it lucky to be born?
I hasten to inform him or her it is just as lucky to die, and I know it.
I pass death with the dying and birth with the new-wash’d babe, and am not contain’d between my hat and boots,
And peruse manifold objects, no two alike and every one good,
The earth good and the stars good, and their adjuncts all good.
These lines suggest that life and death are part of a larger cycle, one that is beyond human understanding. Whitman seems to be saying that the beauty and mystery of the ocean is a reflection of the beauty and mystery of life itself. We are all part of this cycle, and every moment is precious and valuable.
Conclusion
"The World Below The Brine" is a remarkable poem, one that combines vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and deep introspection. Whitman's ability to capture the beauty and mystery of the ocean and its inhabitants is truly remarkable, and the poem's themes of life, death, and the cycle of nature are timeless and universal.
Overall, "The World Below The Brine" is a testament to Whitman's poetic genius and his ability to capture the essence of the human spirit. It is a poem that inspires wonder and awe, and reminds us of the beauty and mystery of the world around us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The World Below The Brine: A Masterpiece of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, the father of free verse, is known for his unconventional style of poetry that broke away from the traditional forms of poetry. His poem, The World Below The Brine, is a perfect example of his unique style. This poem is a masterpiece that explores the depths of the ocean and the mysteries that lie beneath the surface. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the lines, "The world below the brine, / Forests at the bottom of the sea, the branches and leaves, / Sea-lettuce, vast lichens, strange flowers and seeds, the thick tangle, the openings, and the pink turf." These lines set the tone for the rest of the poem. The world below the brine is a mysterious and magical place that is full of life and beauty. The forests at the bottom of the sea are a metaphor for the vast and complex ecosystem that exists beneath the surface of the ocean.
Whitman then goes on to describe the different types of flora that exist in the world below the brine. Sea-lettuce, vast lichens, strange flowers, and seeds are all examples of the diverse plant life that exists in the ocean. The thick tangle and the openings are a reference to the intricate and complex nature of the underwater world. The pink turf is a metaphor for the soft and delicate nature of the underwater landscape.
The next stanza of the poem reads, "Different colors, pale gray and green, purple, white, and gold, / The play of light through the water, the azure and the green, / The bright stars shining, even in the darkest depths." These lines describe the different colors that exist in the world below the brine. The play of light through the water creates a mesmerizing effect that is both beautiful and awe-inspiring. The bright stars shining in the darkest depths are a reference to the bioluminescent creatures that exist in the ocean.
The third stanza of the poem reads, "The current rushing so swiftly, and swimming with me far away, / The winds blowing and the seas tossing, the rocks and the sands upon the shore, / The waves, the fields of the sea, rolling and tossing and frothing." These lines describe the movement and energy that exists in the ocean. The current rushing so swiftly is a metaphor for the fast-paced and ever-changing nature of the underwater world. The winds blowing and the seas tossing are a reference to the powerful forces that shape the ocean. The rocks and sands upon the shore are a reminder of the connection between the land and the sea.
The final stanza of the poem reads, "And the songs of the singers, the chant of the chanters, the lisp of the cornet, / The scream of the maddened crowd, the roar of the cannon, the crunch of the bayonet, / And all forms of slaughter, all forms of hate and spite and villainy, / Walt Whitman, to thee thy country's genius, / Young America, / The same old song, the same old human song." These lines are a reminder that despite the beauty and wonder of the world below the brine, there is still darkness and violence in the world. The songs of the singers and the chant of the chanters are a reference to the beauty and art that exists in the world. The scream of the maddened crowd, the roar of the cannon, and the crunch of the bayonet are a reminder of the violence and hatred that exists in the world. The final lines of the poem are a tribute to America and a reminder that despite the darkness in the world, there is still hope for a better future.
In conclusion, The World Below The Brine is a masterpiece of Walt Whitman that explores the depths of the ocean and the mysteries that lie beneath the surface. The poem is a celebration of the beauty and wonder of the underwater world and a reminder that despite the darkness in the world, there is still hope for a better future. Whitman's unique style of poetry and his use of metaphors and imagery make this poem a timeless classic that continues to inspire and captivate readers today.
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