'Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering' by Walt Whitman
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MANHATTAN'S streets I saunter'd, pondering,
On time, space, reality--on such as these, and abreast with them,
prudence.
After all, the last explanation remains to be made about prudence;
Little and large alike drop quietly aside from the prudence that
suits immortality.
The Soul is of itself;
All verges to it--all has reference to what ensues;
All that a person does, says, thinks, is of consequence;
Not a move can a man or woman make, that affects him or her in a day,
month, any part of the direct life-time, or the hour of death,
but the same affects him or her onward afterward through the
indirect life-time.
The indirect is just as much as the direct,
The spirit receives from the body just as much as it gives to the
body, if not more.10
Not one word or deed--not venereal sore, discoloration, privacy of
the onanist, putridity of gluttons or rum-drinkers, peculation,
cunning, betrayal, murder, seduction, prostitution, but has
results beyond death, as really as before death.
Charity and personal force are the only investments worth anything.
No specification is necessary--all that a male or female does, that
is vigorous, benevolent, clean, is so much profit to him or
her, in the unshakable order of the universe, and through the
whole scope of it forever.
Who has been wise, receives interest,
Savage, felon, President, judge, farmer, sailor, mechanic, literat,
young, old, it is the same,
The interest will come round--all will come round.
Singly, wholly, to affect now, affected their time, will forever
affect all of the past, and all of the present, and all of the
future,
All the brave actions of war and peace,
All help given to relatives, strangers, the poor, old, sorrowful,
young children, widows, the sick, and to shunn'd persons,
All furtherance of fugitives, and of the escape of slaves,20
All self-denial that stood steady and aloof on wrecks, and saw others
fill the seats of the boats,
All offering of substance or life for the good old cause, or for a
friend's sake, or opinion's sake,
All pains of enthusiasts, scoff'd at by their neighbors,
All the limitless sweet love and precious suffering of mothers,
All honest men baffled in strifes recorded or unrecorded,
All the grandeur and good of ancient nations whose fragments we
inherit,
All the good of the dozens of ancient nations unknown to us by name,
date, location,
All that was ever manfully begun, whether it succeeded or no,
All suggestions of the divine mind of man, or the divinity of his
mouth, or the shaping of his great hands;
All that is well thought or said this day on any part of the globe--
or on any of the wandering stars, or on any of the fix'd stars,
by those there as we are here;30
All that is henceforth to be thought or done by you, whoever you are,
or by any one;
These inure, have inured, shall inure, to the identities from which
they sprang, or shall spring.
Did you guess anything lived only its moment?
The world does not so exist--no parts palpable or impalpable so
exist;
No consummation exists without being from some long previous
consummation--and that from some other,
Without the farthest conceivable one coming a bit nearer the
beginning than any.
Whatever satisfies Souls is true;
Prudence entirely satisfies the craving and glut of Souls;
Itself only finally satisfies the Soul;
The Soul has that measureless pride which revolts from every lesson
but its own.40
Now I give you an inkling;
Now I breathe the word of the prudence that walks abreast with time,
space, reality,
That answers the pride which refuses every lesson but its own.
What is prudence, is indivisible,
Declines to separate one part of life from every part,
Divides not the righteous from the unrighteous, or the living from
the dead,
Matches every thought or act by its correlative,
Knows no possible forgiveness, or deputed atonement,
Knows that the young man who composedly peril'd his life and lost it,
has done exceedingly well for himself without doubt,
That he who never peril'd his life, but retains it to old age in
riches and ease, has probably achiev'd nothing for himself
worth mentioning;50
Knows that only that person has really learn'd, who has learn'd to
prefer results,
Who favors Body and Soul the same,
Who perceives the indirect assuredly following the direct,
Who in his spirit in any emergency whatever neither hurries or,
avoids death.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering" by Walt Whitman: A Deep Dive
Oh boy, where do I even begin with this one? "Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering" by Walt Whitman is a poem that manages to capture the essence of the city, the people, and the emotions that come with it - all in just a few short stanzas. It's a masterful work of art that speaks to the human experience on a level that few other poems can match.
Let's dive right into the poem and explore its themes, meanings, and literary devices.
The Poem
First things first, let's take a look at the poem itself:
MANHATTAN streets I saunter'd, pondering,
On time, space, reality--on such as these, as these,
Chanted chants I heard--choirs singing in the midst of
Manhattan,
And when I heard the buzz of the little world among the
stalks, and grew familiar with the countless
indescribable forms of the insects and flies, then I
warranted that there was much more in man than
fashion--there was indeed;
I perceived that to be really true was to have a perfect
knowledge of the past and the present, and
prophetic of the future,
To possess, as it were, a sort of omnipresence and
omniscience all at once.
Right off the bat, we can see that the poem is about the speaker's experience walking through the streets of Manhattan. But as we'll soon discover, it's about much more than that.
Themes
One of the major themes in this poem is the idea of perception and reality. The speaker ponders on time, space, and reality, which suggests that he is questioning the nature of our existence. He hears "chants" and "choirs" singing in the midst of Manhattan, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for the underlying forces that shape our world. The speaker realizes that there is much more to humanity than just fashion - that is, the superficial trappings of society.
Another theme in this poem is the idea of knowledge and understanding. The speaker suggests that to be "really true" is to have a perfect knowledge of the past, present, and future - to possess omniscience and omnipresence all at once. This could be interpreted as a commentary on the limitations of human knowledge and our constant struggle to understand the world around us.
Finally, the poem touches on the theme of perspective. As the speaker walks through the streets of Manhattan, he sees "countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies." This suggests that there are infinite perspectives and ways of looking at the world. The speaker's own perspective is just one of many, and he acknowledges that there is much he does not know or understand.
Literary Devices
Now let's take a closer look at the literary devices Whitman uses to convey his themes.
Imagery
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is the vivid imagery. Whitman paints a picture of Manhattan that is both beautiful and chaotic. The "chants" and "choirs" he hears suggest a sense of harmony, but the "buzz of the little world" among the stalks (presumably the buildings) suggests a sense of frenetic energy. The "countless indescribable forms of the insects and flies" also create a vivid image of the city teeming with life.
Repetition
Whitman uses repetition to great effect in this poem. The phrase "as these, as these" emphasizes the speaker's pondering on time, space, and reality. The repetition of "omnipresence and omniscience" reinforces the idea that true knowledge requires an all-encompassing perspective.
Allusion
At the end of the poem, the speaker suggests that to possess true knowledge is to be "prophetic of the future." This alludes to the idea of prophecy in the Bible, where prophets were believed to have a direct line to God and could see the future. By using this allusion, Whitman suggests that true knowledge is not just intellectual, but spiritual as well.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? At its core, "Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering" is a meditation on the human experience. Whitman suggests that our perception of reality is limited and that true knowledge requires an all-encompassing perspective. He acknowledges the chaotic and beautiful nature of the world around us and suggests that there are infinite ways of looking at it.
But the poem also has a deeper, more spiritual dimension. The allusion to prophecy suggests that true knowledge is not just an intellectual exercise, but a spiritual one as well. Whitman suggests that to truly understand the world around us, we must be attuned to the underlying forces that shape it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering" by Walt Whitman is a masterful work of art that manages to capture the human experience in just a few short stanzas. Through vivid imagery, repetition, and allusion, Whitman explores the themes of perception, knowledge, and perspective. The poem is a reminder that our understanding of the world around us is limited and that true knowledge requires an all-encompassing perspective. It's a beautiful and thought-provoking work that continues to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering: A Masterpiece by Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, the father of free verse poetry, is known for his unconventional style and his ability to capture the essence of American life in his works. One of his most celebrated poems, "Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering," is a perfect example of his unique style and his ability to paint vivid pictures with his words.
The poem is a reflection of Whitman's experiences while walking the streets of Manhattan. He takes the reader on a journey through the bustling city, describing the sights, sounds, and smells that he encounters along the way. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which captures a different aspect of the city.
In the first section, Whitman describes the streets of Manhattan as he sees them. He paints a picture of a city that is alive with activity, with people rushing to and fro, and with the sounds of carriages and horses filling the air. He describes the buildings as "tall and stately," and the streets as "broad and beautiful." He also notes the diversity of the people he sees, describing them as "races, colors, ages."
Whitman's use of language in this section is particularly striking. He uses long, flowing sentences that are full of descriptive words and phrases. He also uses repetition to emphasize certain words and ideas. For example, he repeats the phrase "I saunter'd" several times, emphasizing the leisurely pace of his walk and the contemplative nature of his thoughts.
In the second section of the poem, Whitman reflects on the people he sees in the city. He describes them as "hurrying, bustling, eager, restless," and notes that they are all "seeking something." He also observes that many of them are unhappy, and that they seem to be searching for something that they cannot find.
Whitman's observations about the people of Manhattan are particularly poignant. He captures the sense of restlessness and dissatisfaction that is so common in modern society, and he suggests that this is a universal human experience. He also suggests that there is something missing in the lives of these people, and that they are searching for something that they cannot find.
In the final section of the poem, Whitman reflects on his own thoughts and feelings as he walks through the city. He notes that he is "pondering" and that his thoughts are "vague and vast." He also suggests that he is searching for something, just like the people he sees around him.
Whitman's reflections in this section are particularly powerful. He captures the sense of introspection and contemplation that is so common in poetry, and he suggests that this is a natural response to the world around us. He also suggests that there is something universal about this experience, and that we are all searching for something that we cannot find.
Overall, "Manhattan Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering" is a masterpiece of free verse poetry. It captures the essence of modern life in a way that is both beautiful and poignant, and it suggests that there is something universal about the human experience. Whitman's use of language is particularly striking, and his ability to paint vivid pictures with his words is truly remarkable. This poem is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry, and it is a testament to the enduring power of Walt Whitman's work.
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