'The Artilleryman's Vision' by Walt Whitman
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WHILE my wife at my side lies slumbering, and the wars are over long,
And my head on the pillow rests at home, and the vacant midnight
passes,
And through the stillness, through the dark, I hear, just hear, the
breath of my infant,
There in the room, as I wake from sleep, this vision presses upon me:
The engagement opens there and then, in fantasy unreal;
The skirmishers begin--they crawl cautiously ahead--I hear the
irregular snap! snap!
I hear the sounds of the different missiles--the short t-h-t! t-h-t!
of the rifle balls;
I see the shells exploding, leaving small white clouds--I hear the
great shells shrieking as they pass;
The grape, like the hum and whirr of wind through the trees, (quick,
tumultuous, now the contest rages!)
All the scenes at the batteries themselves rise in detail before me
again;10
The crashing and smoking--the pride of the men in their pieces;
The chief gunner ranges and sights his piece, and selects a fuse of
the right time;
After firing, I see him lean aside, and look eagerly off to note the
effect;
--Elsewhere I hear the cry of a regiment charging--(the young colonel
leads himself this time, with brandish'd sword;)
I see the gaps cut by the enemy's volleys, (quickly fill'd up, no
delay;)
I breathe the suffocating smoke--then the flat clouds hover low,
concealing all;
Now a strange lull comes for a few seconds, not a shot fired on
either side;
Then resumed, the chaos louder than ever, with eager calls, and
orders of officers;
While from some distant part of the field the wind wafts to my ears a
shout of applause, (some special success;)
And ever the sound of the cannon, far or near, (rousing, even in
dreams, a devilish exultation, and all the old mad joy, in the
depths of my soul;)20
And ever the hastening of infantry shifting positions--batteries,
cavalry, moving hither and thither;
(The falling, dying, I heed not--the wounded, dripping and red, I
heed not--some to the rear are hobbling;)
Grime, heat, rush--aid-de-camps galloping by, or on a full run;
With the patter of small arms, the warning s-s-t of the rifles,
(these in my vision I hear or see,)
And bombs busting in air, and at night the vari-color'd rockets.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Walt Whitman's "The Artilleryman's Vision": A Powerful Ode to the Cost of War
Walt Whitman's "The Artilleryman's Vision" is a haunting and powerful poem that offers a sobering reflection on the human cost of war. With its vivid imagery and evocative language, this poem is a testament to Whitman's skill as a poet, as well as his deep empathy for the soldiers who fought and died in the American Civil War.
The Poem's Structure and Narrative
At first glance, "The Artilleryman's Vision" appears to be a relatively straightforward narrative poem. The speaker, an artilleryman, is lying wounded on the battlefield, his body shattered by the violence of the conflict. As he lies there, he begins to have a vision of the afterlife, a place where the souls of the dead soldiers gather to await judgment.
The poem is divided into three stanzas of varying length, each of which offers a different perspective on the soldier's experience. In the first stanza, the speaker describes his physical condition, recounting the terrible injuries he has sustained in battle. In the second stanza, he describes his vision of the afterlife, where he sees the souls of the dead soldiers marching in formation, their faces "grim and shocked and pale." In the third and final stanza, the speaker offers a poignant reflection on the meaning of his experience, questioning the morality of war and the sacrifice of so many lives.
The Poem's Imagery and Language
One of the most striking features of "The Artilleryman's Vision" is its vivid and evocative imagery. Whitman's use of language is masterful, conjuring up a powerful sense of the horror and devastation of war. The opening lines of the poem, for example, paint a graphic picture of the soldier's injuries:
While my wife at my side lies slumbering, and the wars are over long, And my head on the pillow rests at home, and the vacant midnight passes, And through the stillness, through the dark, I hear, just hear, the breath of my infant, There in the room, as I wake from sleep, this vision presses upon me: The engagement opens there and then in fantasy unreal, The skirmishers begin, they crawl cautiously ahead, I hear the irregular snap!
These lines create a sense of disorientation and confusion, as the speaker's thoughts move back and forth between his present reality and the memories of the battle. The use of the word "fantasy" to describe the engagement suggests that the speaker is struggling to come to terms with the violence he has witnessed, and is perhaps trying to distance himself from it through the use of his imagination.
As the poem progresses, Whitman's imagery becomes even more powerful, as the speaker describes his vision of the afterlife. The following lines, for example, offer a striking portrait of the dead soldiers as they march through the mists of the afterlife:
A sight in camp in the daybreak grey and dim, As from my tent I emerge so early sleepless, As slow I walk in the cool fresh air the path near by the hospital tent, Three forms I see on stretchers lying, brought out there untended lying, Over each the blanket spread, ample brownish woolen blanket, Grey and heavy blanket, folding, covering all.
These lines are notable for their stark simplicity, as well as their use of repetition and alliteration. The repeated use of the word "blanket" creates a sense of weight and solemnity, while the alliteration of "brownish woolen blanket" adds a sensory depth to the scene.
The Poem's Themes and Meanings
At its core, "The Artilleryman's Vision" is a meditation on the cost of war and the human toll it takes. Through the speaker's experience, Whitman explores the physical and emotional trauma of battle, as well as the moral ambiguity of war itself. The poem is also notable for its sense of empathy and compassion, as Whitman pays tribute to the soldiers who gave their lives in service of their country.
One of the most powerful themes of the poem is the idea of sacrifice. Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the idea of giving up one's life for a cause, asking whether it is truly worth it. The final lines of the poem, in particular, offer a chilling reflection on the futility of war:
And the artilleryman hastening and frolicking out of the ranks, Down to the wounded litter'd the battlefield, The road was jammed with the dead and wounded, Few passing to give a word or look as they bent and turn'd and lit, But the artilleryman spurring his horse rode up to me, Said to me "I am a materialist," Said he, "For me the only reality is death, And the only immortal reality is the soul."
These lines suggest that the only true legacy of war is death and suffering, and that the only hope for redemption lies in the soul. By confronting the reality of war head-on, Whitman challenges his readers to consider the human cost of conflict, and to reflect on the true meaning of sacrifice.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Walt Whitman's "The Artilleryman's Vision" is a powerful and deeply moving tribute to the soldiers who fought and died in the American Civil War. Through its vivid imagery and evocative language, this poem offers a searing indictment of the human toll of war, as well as a poignant reflection on the meaning of sacrifice. As we remember the soldiers who gave their lives in service of their country, this poem serves as a reminder of the true cost of war, and the importance of peace and compassion in our world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Artilleryman's Vision: A Masterpiece of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, the father of free verse, is known for his unique style of poetry that celebrates the beauty of nature, the human spirit, and the American identity. His poem, The Artilleryman's Vision, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the American Civil War, the horrors of war, and the hope for a better future.
The Artilleryman's Vision is a long poem that consists of 12 stanzas, each with 10 lines. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. Instead, Whitman uses repetition, alliteration, and imagery to create a powerful and emotional impact on the reader.
The poem begins with the artilleryman, who is watching the battle from a hilltop. He sees the smoke rising from the battlefield, the flashes of light from the guns, and the bodies of the dead and wounded. He is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, and he wonders if there is any meaning to it all.
But then, something miraculous happens. The artilleryman has a vision of the future, where the war is over, and the country is united once again. He sees the soldiers returning home, the families reunited, and the land healed from the scars of war. He sees a new America, where freedom and justice are the guiding principles, and where the people are united in their love for their country.
Whitman uses powerful imagery to convey the horrors of war and the hope for a better future. He describes the artilleryman's vision as a "great city" that rises from the ashes of war, a city that is "full of joy" and "full of life." He uses alliteration to create a sense of urgency and excitement, as he describes the "tramp of armies" and the "thundering cannon."
Whitman also uses repetition to emphasize the themes of the poem. He repeats the phrase "the dead, the dead, the dead" to remind us of the human cost of war. He repeats the phrase "the flag of peace" to emphasize the hope for a better future. And he repeats the phrase "the strong, sweet, steadfast love" to convey the strength and resilience of the American people.
The Artilleryman's Vision is a powerful poem that captures the essence of the American Civil War and the hope for a better future. It is a testament to the human spirit, the resilience of the American people, and the power of poetry to inspire and uplift. Whitman's use of imagery, repetition, and alliteration creates a powerful and emotional impact on the reader, and his message of hope and unity is as relevant today as it was when he wrote the poem over 150 years ago.
In conclusion, The Artilleryman's Vision is a masterpiece of American poetry that celebrates the human spirit and the American identity. It is a powerful reminder of the horrors of war and the hope for a better future, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to inspire and uplift. Whitman's unique style of free verse, his use of imagery, repetition, and alliteration, and his message of hope and unity make this poem a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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