'Elemental Drifts' by Walt Whitman
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ELEMENTAL drifts!
How I wish I could impress others as you have just been impressing
me!
As I ebb'd with an ebb of the ocean of life,
As I wended the shores I know,
As I walk'd where the ripples continually wash you, Paumanok,
Where they rustle up, hoarse and sibilant,
Where the fierce old mother endlessly cries for her castaways,
I, musing, late in the autumn day, gazing off southward,
Alone, held by this eternal Self of me, out of the pride of which I
utter my poems,
Was seiz'd by the spirit that trails in the lines underfoot,10
In the rim, the sediment, that stands for all the water and all the
land of the globe.
Fascinated, my eyes, reverting from the south, dropt, to follow those
slender winrows,
Chaff, straw, splinters of wood, weeds, and the sea-gluten,
Scum, scales from shining rocks, leaves of salt-lettuce, left by the
tide:
Miles walking, the sound of breaking waves the other side of me,
Paumanok, there and then, as I thought the old thought of likenesses,
These you presented to me, you fish-shaped island,
As I wended the shores I know,
As I walk'd with that eternal Self of me, seeking types.
As I wend to the shores I know not,20
As I list to the dirge, the voices of men and women wreck'd,
As I inhale the impalpable breezes that set in upon me,
As the ocean so mysterious rolls toward me closer and closer,
I, too, but signify, at the utmost, a little wash'd-up drift,
A few sands and dead leaves to gather,
Gather, and merge myself as part of the sands and drift.
O baffled, balk'd, bent to the very earth,
Oppress'd with myself that I have dared to open my mouth,
Aware now, that, amid all that blab whose echoes recoil upon me, I
have not once had the least idea who or what I am,
But that before all my insolent poems the real ME stands yet
untouch'd, untold, altogether unreach'd,30
Withdrawn far, mocking me with mock-congratulatory signs and bows,
With peals of distant ironical laughter at every word I have written,
Pointing in silence to these songs, and then to the sand beneath.
Now I perceive I have not understood anything--not a single object--
and that no man ever can.
I perceive Nature, here in sight of the sea, is taking advantage of
me, to dart upon me, and sting me,
Because I have dared to open my mouth, to sing at all.
You oceans both! I close with you;
We murmur alike reproachfully, rolling our sands and drift, knowing
not why,
These little shreds indeed, standing for you and me and all.
You friable shore, with trails of debris!40
You fish-shaped island! I take what is underfoot;
What is yours is mine, my father.
I too Paumanok,
I too have bubbled up, floated the measureless float, and been wash'd
on your shores;
I too am but a trail of drift and debris,
I too leave little wrecks upon you, you fish-shaped island.
I throw myself upon your breast, my father,
I cling to you so that you cannot unloose me,
I hold you so firm, till you answer me something.
Kiss me, my father,50
Touch me with your lips, as I touch those I love,
Breathe to me, while I hold you close, the secret of the murmuring I
envy.
Ebb, ocean of life, (the flow will return,)
Cease not your moaning, you fierce old mother,
Endlessly cry for your castaways--but fear not, deny not me,
Rustle not up so hoarse and angry against my feet, as I touch you, or
gather from you.
I mean tenderly by you and all,
I gather for myself, and for this phantom, looking down where we
lead, and following me and mine.
Me and mine!
We, loose winrows, little corpses,60
Froth, snowy white, and bubbles,
(See! from my dead lips the ooze exuding at last!
See--the prismatic colors, glistening and rolling!)
Tufts of straw, sands, fragments,
Buoy'd hither from many moods, one contradicting another,
From the storm, the long calm, the darkness, the swell;
Musing, pondering, a breath, a briny tear, a dab of liquid or soil;
Up just as much out of fathomless workings fermented and thrown;
A limp blossom or two, torn, just as much over waves floating,
drifted at random;
Just as much for us that sobbing dirge of Nature;70
Just as much, whence we come, that blare of the cloud-trumpets;
We, capricious, brought hither, we know not whence, spread out before
you,
You, up there, walking or sitting,
Whoever you are--we too lie in drifts at your feet.
Sea-raff! Crook-tongued waves,
O, I will yet sing, some day, what you have said to me."
Editor 1 Interpretation
Excitement and Wonder in Elemental Drifts by Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman is one of America's most celebrated poets, known for his free verse and focus on the beauty of the natural world. One of his most famous collections, Leaves of Grass, explores themes of democracy, individualism, and the interconnectedness of all things. In Elemental Drifts, a section of Leaves of Grass, Whitman continues to explore these themes while also paying tribute to the elemental forces that shape our world.
At its core, Elemental Drifts is a celebration of the wonders of nature. Whitman writes with a sense of awe and reverence for the natural world, describing it in vivid detail and urging his readers to appreciate its beauty. He begins the section with a poem titled "Earth, My Likeness," in which he personifies the earth as a living, breathing being:
Earth, my likeness,
Though you look so impassive, ample and spheric there,
I now suspect that is not all;
I now suspect there is something fierce in you, eligible to burst forth,
For an athlete is enamour'd of me, and I of him,
But toward him there is something fierce and terrible in me, eligible to burst forth,
I dare not tell it in words, not even in these songs.
In these lines, Whitman suggests that there is more to the earth than meets the eye. He sees it as a powerful force, capable of great beauty and great destruction. This idea is repeated throughout Elemental Drifts, as Whitman explores the elements that shape our world: air, water, fire, and earth.
One of the most striking poems in Elemental Drifts is "Poets to Come." In this poem, Whitman imagines future generations of poets who will continue to celebrate the natural world as he has done:
Poets to come! orators, singers, musicians to come!
Not to-day is to justify me and answer what I am for,
But you, a new brood, native, athletic, continental, greater than before known,
Arouse! for you must justify me.
Whitman sees himself as a precursor to these poets, a kind of prophet who has paved the way for future generations to appreciate the beauty of the world around us. He urges these poets to continue his work, to "arouse" and celebrate the natural world in all its glory.
Another notable poem in Elemental Drifts is "A Song for Occupations." In this poem, Whitman celebrates the hardworking men and women who make our world go round:
O the joy of a manly self-hood!
To be servile to none, to defer to none, not to any tyrant known or unknown,
To walk with erect carriage, a step springy and elastic,
To look with calm gaze or with a flashing eye,
To speak with a full and sonorous voice out of a broad chest,
To confront with your personality all the other personalities of the earth.
Here, Whitman celebrates the idea of individualism, the idea that each person has something unique to offer the world. He sees hard work as a noble pursuit and urges his readers to take pride in their contributions, no matter how small they may seem.
Overall, Elemental Drifts is a powerful celebration of the natural world and the elements that shape our lives. Whitman writes with a sense of wonder and excitement, urging his readers to appreciate the beauty of the world around us. He sees himself as a prophet, paving the way for future generations to celebrate the natural world and the hardworking people who make it possible. Despite being written over a century ago, Elemental Drifts remains a relevant and inspiring work, reminding us to take pride in our individuality and appreciate the wonders of nature that surround us.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Elemental Drifts: A Masterpiece by Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, the father of free verse poetry, is known for his unique style of writing that celebrates the beauty of nature and the human spirit. His work, Poetry Elemental Drifts, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of life and the universe in a way that is both profound and beautiful.
In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Poetry Elemental Drifts, and how they contribute to the overall message of the poem.
Themes
The central theme of Poetry Elemental Drifts is the interconnectedness of all things in the universe. Whitman uses the elements of nature, such as the wind, the sea, and the stars, to illustrate this idea. He shows how everything is connected and how each element affects the other.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of change and transformation. Whitman portrays the universe as a constantly evolving entity, where everything is in a state of flux. He shows how the elements of nature are always changing, and how this change is necessary for growth and renewal.
Structure
Poetry Elemental Drifts is a long poem that consists of 13 stanzas, each with varying lengths. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. This style of writing allows Whitman to express himself freely and to capture the natural rhythms of speech.
The poem is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct tone and theme. The first section focuses on the wind and its power to shape the world around us. The second section explores the sea and its vastness, and the third section looks at the stars and their infinite beauty.
Language
Whitman's use of language in Poetry Elemental Drifts is both powerful and evocative. He uses vivid imagery and sensory language to bring the elements of nature to life. For example, in the first stanza, he describes the wind as a "wild spirit" that "roams at will". This creates a sense of freedom and power that is associated with the wind.
Whitman also uses repetition and parallelism to create a sense of rhythm and flow in the poem. For example, in the second stanza, he repeats the phrase "the sea" several times, creating a sense of the sea's vastness and power.
The poem is also filled with metaphors and symbolism. For example, in the third section, Whitman compares the stars to "the eyes of God". This creates a sense of wonder and awe, and highlights the idea that the universe is a divine creation.
Overall Message
The overall message of Poetry Elemental Drifts is one of interconnectedness and transformation. Whitman shows how everything in the universe is connected, and how each element affects the other. He also shows how change is necessary for growth and renewal, and how the universe is constantly evolving.
The poem is a celebration of life and the beauty of nature. It encourages us to appreciate the world around us and to see ourselves as part of a larger whole. It also reminds us that we are all connected, and that our actions have an impact on the world around us.
Conclusion
Poetry Elemental Drifts is a masterpiece of free verse poetry that captures the essence of life and the universe. Whitman's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and evocative picture of the elements of nature, and his themes of interconnectedness and transformation are both profound and inspiring.
This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the beauty and complexity of the world around us. It reminds us of our place in the universe and encourages us to appreciate the natural world and the interconnectedness of all things.
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