'Thoughts' by Walt Whitman

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OF these years I sing,
How they pass and have pass'd, through convuls'd pains as through
parturitions;
How America illustrates birth, muscular youth, the promise, the sure
fulfillment, the Absolute Success, despite of people--
Illustrates evil as well as good;
How many hold despairingly yet to the models departed, caste, myths,
obedience, compulsion, and to infidelity;
How few see the arrived models, the Athletes, the Western States--or
see freedom or spirituality--or hold any faith in results,
(But I see the Athletes--and I see the results of the war glorious
and inevitable--and they again leading to other results;)
How the great cities appear--How the Democratic masses, turbulent,
wilful, as I love them;
How the whirl, the contest, the wrestle of evil with good, the
sounding and resounding, keep on and on;
How society waits unform'd, and is for awhile between things ended
and things begun;
How America is the continent of glories, and of the triumph of
freedom, and of the Democracies, and of the fruits of society,
and of all that is begun;10
And how The States are complete in themselves--And how all triumphs
and glories are complete in themselves, to lead onward,
And how these of mine, and of The States, will in their turn be
convuls'd, and serve other parturitions and transitions,
And how all people, sights, combinations, the Democratic masses, too,
serve--and how every fact, and war itself, with all its
horrors, serves,
And how now, or at any time, each serves the exquisite transition of
death.

OF seeds dropping into the ground--of birth,
Of the steady concentration of America, inland, upward, to
impregnable and swarming places,
Of what Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and the rest, are to be,
Of what a few years will show there in Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada,
and the rest;
(Or afar, mounting the Northern Pacific to Sitka or Aliaska;)
Of what the feuillage of America is the preparation for--and of what
all sights, North, South, East and West, are;
Of This Union, soak'd, welded in blood--of the solemn price paid--of
the unnamed lost, ever present in my mind;
--Of the temporary use of materials, for identity's sake,
Of the present, passing, departing--of the growth of completer men
than any yet,
Of myself, soon, perhaps, closing up my songs by these shores,10
Of California, of Oregon--and of me journeying to live and sing
there;
Of the Western Sea--of the spread inland between it and the spinal
river,
Of the great pastoral area, athletic and feminine,
of all sloping down there where the fresh free giver, the mother, the
Mississippi flows,
Of future women there--of happiness in those high plateaus, ranging
three thousand miles, warm and cold;
Of mighty inland cities yet unsurvey'd and unsuspected, (as I am
also, and as it must be;)
Of the new and good names--of the modern developments--of inalienable
homesteads;
Of a free and original life there--of simple diet and clean and sweet
blood;
Of litheness, majestic faces, clear eyes, and perfect physique there;
Of immense spiritual results, future years, far west, each side of
the Anahuacs;20
Of these leaves, well understood there, (being made for that area;)
Of the native scorn of grossness and gain there;
(O it lurks in me night and day--What is gain, after all, to
savageness and freedom?)

Editor 1 Interpretation

Walt Whitman's "Poetry, Thoughts": A Masterpiece of American Literature

Walt Whitman's "Poetry, Thoughts" is a classic American literary work that has inspired generations of readers and writers. This collection of poems showcases the poet's profound insights into the human condition, his love of nature, and his revolutionary ideas about democracy and individualism. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, language, and style of "Poetry, Thoughts" and analyze their significance in the context of American literature.

Historical Context

Walt Whitman wrote "Poetry, Thoughts" in the mid-19th century, a time of great social and political upheaval in America. The country was still recovering from the Civil War, which had ended just a few years before. Whitman, who had served as a volunteer nurse during the war, had witnessed the horrors of battle and the suffering of soldiers and civilians alike. He had also seen the potential for greatness in the American people, and he believed that poetry was a powerful tool for expressing their aspirations and ideals.

At the same time, Whitman was also grappling with his own personal struggles. He was an unconventional poet who rejected the traditional forms and styles of European poetry and instead developed his own free-verse style. He was also openly gay at a time when homosexuality was taboo and illegal. These personal and social challenges are reflected in his poetry, which is often raw, emotional, and provocative.

Themes

"Poetry, Thoughts" is a collection of 12 poems that explore a variety of themes, including:

Nature

One of the recurring themes in Whitman's poetry is his love of nature. He sees the natural world as a source of beauty, inspiration, and spiritual renewal. In "When I Heard at the Close of the Day," he writes:

When I heard at the close of the day how my
name had been receiv'd with plaudits in the
capitol, still it was not a happy night for
me that follow'd,
And else when I carous'd, or when my plans
were accomplish'd, still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed
of perfect health, refresh'd, singing, inhaling
the ripe breath of autumn,
When I wander'd alone over the beach, and
undressing bathed, laughing with the cool
waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my
lover was on his way coming, O then I was
happy,
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all
that day my food nourish'd me more, and the
beautiful day pass'd well,
And the next came with equal joy, and with
the next at evening came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the
waters roll slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands
as directed to me whispering to congratulate
me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me
under the same cover in the cool night,

Here, Whitman describes a moment of pure joy and connection with nature, when he rises at dawn and bathes in the ocean. He is at his happiest when he is alone with his thoughts and the natural world around him.

Democracy

Another important theme in Whitman's poetry is his belief in democracy and the power of the individual. He sees America as a land of opportunity and possibility, where people from all walks of life can come together as equals. In "I Hear America Singing," he writes:

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it
should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank
or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work,
or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his
boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat
deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench,
the hatter singing as he stands,
The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's on his
way in the morning, or at noon intermission
or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the
young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or
washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to
none else,
The day what belongs to the day—at night the
party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious
songs.

Here, Whitman celebrates the diversity of American society and the individual voices that make up the chorus of the nation. He believes that each person has a unique contribution to make, and that together they can create something greater than themselves.

Death

Finally, death is a common theme in Whitman's poetry. He sees death not as an end, but as a natural part of the cycle of life. In "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," he writes:

When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd,
And the great star early droop'd in the western sky
in the night,
I mourn'd—and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.
Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring,
Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west,
And thought of him I love.

Here, Whitman is mourning the death of President Abraham Lincoln, but he sees his grief as a way of connecting with the natural world and the eternal cycle of life and death.

Language and Style

Whitman's language and style are also noteworthy. He is known for his use of free verse, which rejects the traditional rules of rhyme and meter and instead relies on the natural rhythms of speech. This gives his poetry a sense of spontaneity and authenticity, as if he is speaking directly to the reader.

He is also known for his use of repetition and parallelism, which create a sense of unity and harmony in his poetry. In "Song of Myself," he writes:

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

Here, Whitman repeats the phrase "I celebrate myself" and then adds a parallel clause that reinforces the idea of shared identity and belonging.

Finally, Whitman is known for his use of lists and catalogs, which create a sense of abundance and inclusiveness in his poetry. In "I Hear America Singing," he lists a variety of different professions and activities, each with its own unique song. This creates a sense of democracy and equality, as if no voice is too small or insignificant to be heard.

Significance

So why is "Poetry, Thoughts" significant in the context of American literature? There are several reasons. First, it represents a break from the traditional forms and styles of European poetry and instead celebrates the natural rhythms and voices of America. This makes it a distinctly American work, one that celebrates the diversity and vitality of the young nation.

Second, it embodies many of the themes and ideas that were central to the American Renaissance, a period of literary and cultural revival in the mid-19th century. The American Renaissance was characterized by a sense of optimism and possibility, as well as a fascination with the natural world and the individual voice. "Poetry, Thoughts" embodies all of these themes and more, making it a quintessential work of the period.

Finally, "Poetry, Thoughts" has had a profound impact on American literature and culture. It has inspired countless writers and artists, from Allen Ginsberg to Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen. Its celebration of democracy, individualism, and the natural world continues to resonate with readers today, making Whitman one of the most beloved and influential American poets of all time.

Conclusion

Walt Whitman's "Poetry, Thoughts" is a masterpiece of American literature that celebrates the diversity and vitality of the young nation. Its themes of nature, democracy, and death continue to resonate with readers today, making it a quintessential work of the American Renaissance. By rejecting the traditional forms and styles of European poetry and instead celebrating the natural rhythms and voices of America, Whitman created a distinctly American work that has inspired generations of readers and writers.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Thoughts by Walt Whitman: A Celebration of Life and Nature

Walt Whitman, the American poet, essayist, and journalist, is widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative poets of the 19th century. His magnum opus, Leaves of Grass, is a collection of poems that celebrates the beauty of life, nature, and the human spirit. One of the most famous poems from this collection is Poetry Thoughts, which is a powerful and inspiring ode to the power of poetry and its ability to connect us to the world around us. In this article, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Poetry Thoughts, and examine why it continues to resonate with readers today.

Themes

At its core, Poetry Thoughts is a celebration of the power of poetry to connect us to the world around us. Whitman believed that poetry was not just a form of artistic expression, but a way of experiencing life itself. He saw poetry as a means of transcending the limitations of language and connecting with the universal truths that underlie all human experience. In the poem, he writes:

"For the great Idea,
The idea of perfect and free individuals,
For that, the bard walks in advance, leader of leaders,
The attitude of him cheers up slaves and horrifies foreign despots."

Here, Whitman is expressing his belief that poetry has the power to inspire and uplift people, to give them hope and courage in the face of oppression and tyranny. He sees the poet as a leader, a visionary who can help to guide society towards a better future. This theme of social and political activism is a recurring one in Whitman's work, and it is one of the reasons why he remains such an important figure in American literature.

Structure

Poetry Thoughts is a free verse poem, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. Instead, it is structured around a series of images and ideas that flow together in a stream-of-consciousness style. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the power of poetry. The first section is a celebration of the beauty of nature, and the way that poetry can help us to connect with it:

"The earth expanding right hand and left hand,
The picture alive, every part in its best light,
The music falling in where it is wanted, and stopping where it is not wanted,
The cheerful voice of the public road, the gay fresh sentiment of the road."

Here, Whitman is describing the way that poetry can help us to see the world in a new light, to appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature in all its forms. He sees poetry as a way of breaking down the barriers between ourselves and the natural world, of helping us to feel more connected to the earth and to each other.

The second section of the poem is a celebration of the power of language itself, and the way that poetry can help us to transcend its limitations:

"For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I loafe and invite my soul,
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass."

Here, Whitman is expressing his belief that language is not just a tool for communication, but a way of experiencing the world. He sees poetry as a way of breaking down the barriers between ourselves and others, of helping us to see that we are all connected by a common humanity. This theme of unity and interconnectedness is a recurring one in Whitman's work, and it is one of the reasons why he remains such an important figure in American literature.

The final section of the poem is a celebration of the power of the poet himself, and the way that poetry can help us to transcend our own limitations:

"I mind how we lay in June, such a transparent summer morning;
You settled your head athwart my hips and gently turn'd over upon me,
And parted the shirt from my bosom-bone, and plunged your tongue to my bare-stript heart,
And reach'd till you felt my beard, and reach'd till you held my feet."

Here, Whitman is describing the way that poetry can help us to connect with our own bodies and emotions, to explore the depths of our own souls. He sees the poet as a kind of shaman, a guide who can help us to navigate the mysteries of our own inner worlds. This theme of self-discovery and self-expression is a recurring one in Whitman's work, and it is one of the reasons why he remains such an important figure in American literature.

Language

One of the most striking things about Poetry Thoughts is its use of language. Whitman's style is often described as "poetic prose," because it blurs the boundaries between poetry and prose. He uses long, flowing sentences that are full of vivid imagery and sensory detail, and he often repeats key phrases and images to create a sense of rhythm and momentum. Here is an example:

Here, Whitman is using language to create a sense of intimacy and connection between the speaker and the reader. He is inviting us into his world, and encouraging us to explore the depths of our own emotions and desires. This use of language is one of the reasons why Whitman's work continues to resonate with readers today. His poetry is not just beautiful, but deeply meaningful, and it speaks to the universal human experience in a way that few other writers have been able to match.

Conclusion

Poetry Thoughts is a powerful and inspiring poem that celebrates the beauty of life, nature, and the human spirit. Through its vivid imagery, flowing language, and powerful themes, it invites us to explore the depths of our own souls, to connect with the world around us, and to embrace the power of poetry to inspire and uplift us. Whitman's work remains as relevant today as it was when it was first written, and it continues to inspire new generations of readers and writers around the world.

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