'The Centerarian's Story' by Walt Whitman
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GIVE me your hand, old Revolutionary;
The hill-top is nigh--but a few steps, (make room, gentlemen;)
Up the path you have follow'd me well, spite of your hundred and
extra years;
You can walk, old man, though your eyes are almost done;
Your faculties serve you, and presently I must have them serve me.
Rest, while I tell what the crowd around us means;
On the plain below, recruits are drilling and exercising;
There is the camp--one regiment departs to-morrow;
Do you hear the officers giving the orders?
Do you hear the clank of the muskets?10
Why, what comes over you now, old man?
Why do you tremble, and clutch my hand so convulsively?
The troops are but drilling--they are yet surrounded with smiles;
Around them, at hand, the well-drest friends, and the women;
While splendid and warm the afternoon sun shines down;
Green the midsummer verdure, and fresh blows the dallying breeze,
O'er proud and peaceful cities, and arm of the sea between.
But drill and parade are over--they march back to quarters;
Only hear that approval of hands! hear what a clapping!
As wending, the crowds now part and disperse--but we, old man,20
Not for nothing have I brought you hither--we must remain;
You to speak in your turn, and I to listen and tell.
THE CENTENARIAN.
When I clutch'd your hand, it was not with terror;
But suddenly, pouring about me here, on every side,
And below there where the boys were drilling, and up the slopes they
ran,
And where tents are pitch'd, and wherever you see, south and south-
east and south-west,
Over hills, across lowlands, and in the skirts of woods,
And along the shores, in mire (now fill'd over), came again, and
suddenly raged,
As eighty-five years agone, no mere parade receiv'd with applause of
friends,
But a battle, which I took part in myself--aye, long ago as it is, I
took part in it,30
Walking then this hill-top, this same ground.
Aye, this is the ground;
My blind eyes, even as I speak, behold it re-peopled from graves;
The years recede, pavements and stately houses disappear;
Rude forts appear again, the old hoop'd guns are mounted;
I see the lines of rais'd earth stretching from river to bay;
I mark the vista of waters, I mark the uplands and slopes:
Here we lay encamp'd--it was this time in summer also.
As I talk, I remember all--I remember the Declaration;
It was read here--the whole army paraded--it was read to us here;40
By his staff surrounded, the General stood in the middle--he held up
his unsheath'd sword,
It glitter'd in the sun in full sight of the army.
'Twas a bold act then;
The English war-ships had just arrived--the king had sent them from
over the sea;
We could watch down the lower bay where they lay at anchor,
And the transports, swarming with soldiers.
A few days more, and they landed--and then the battle.
Twenty thousand were brought against us,
A veteran force, furnish'd with good artillery.
I tell not now the whole of the battle;50
But one brigade, early in the forenoon, order'd forward to engage the
red-coats;
Of that brigade I tell, and how steadily it march'd,
And how long and how well it stood, confronting death.
Who do you think that was, marching steadily, sternly confronting
death?
It was the brigade of the youngest men, two thousand strong,
Rais'd in Virginia and Maryland, and many of them known personally to
the General.
Jauntily forward they went with quick step toward Gowanus' waters;
Till of a sudden, unlook'd for, by defiles through the woods, gain'd
at night,
The British advancing, wedging in from the east, fiercely playing
their guns,
That brigade of the youngest was cut off, and at the enemy's
mercy.60
The General watch'd them from this hill;
They made repeated desperate attempts to burst their environment;
Then drew close together, very compact, their flag flying in the
middle;
But O from the hills how the cannon were thinning and thinning them!
It sickens me yet, that slaughter!
I saw the moisture gather in drops on the face of the General;
I saw how he wrung his hands in anguish.
Meanwhile the British maneuver'd to draw us out for a pitch'd battle;
But we dared not trust the chances of a pitch'd battle.
We fought the fight in detachments;70
Sallying forth, we fought at several points--but in each the luck was
against us;
Our foe advancing, steadily getting the best of it, push'd us back to
the works on this hill;
Till we turn'd, menacing, here, and then he left us.
That was the going out of the brigade of the youngest men, two
thousand strong;
Few return'd--nearly all remain in Brooklyn.
That, and here, my General's first battle;
No women looking on, nor sunshine to bask in--it did not conclude
with applause;
Nobody clapp'd hands here then.
But in darkness, in mist, on the ground, under a chill rain,
Wearied that night we lay, foil'd and sullen;80
While scornfully laugh'd many an arrogant lord, off against us
encamp'd,
Quite within hearing, feasting, klinking wine-glasses together over
their victory.
So, dull and damp, and another day;
But the night of that, mist lifting, rain ceasing,
Silent as a ghost, while they thought they were sure of him, my
General retreated.
I saw him at the river-side,
Down by the ferry, lit by torches, hastening the embarcation;
My General waited till the soldiers and wounded were all pass'd over;
And then, (it was just ere sunrise,) these eyes rested on him for the
last time.
Every one else seem'd fill'd with gloom;90
Many no doubt thought of capitulation.
But when my General pass'd me,
As he stood in his boat, and look'd toward the coming sun,
I saw something different from capitulation.
TERMINUS.
Enough--the Centenarian's story ends;
The two, the past and present, have interchanged;
I myself, as connecter, as chansonnier of a great future, am now
speaking.
And is this the ground Washington trod?
And these waters I listlessly daily cross, are these the waters he
cross'd,
As resolute in defeat, as other generals in their proudest
triumphs?100
It is well--a lesson like that, always comes good;
I must copy the story, and send it eastward and westward;
I must preserve that look, as it beam'd on you, rivers of Brooklyn.
See! as the annual round returns, the phantoms return;
It is the 27th of August, and the British have landed;
The battle begins, and goes against us--behold! through the smoke,
Washington's face;
The brigade of Virginia and Maryland have march'd forth to intercept
the enemy;
They are cut off--murderous artillery from the hills plays upon them;
Rank after rank falls, while over them silently droops the flag,
Baptized that day in many a young man's bloody wounds, 110
In death, defeat, and sisters', mothers' tears.
Ah, hills and slopes of Brooklyn! I perceive you are more valuable
than your owners supposed;
Ah, river! henceforth you will be illumin'd to me at sunrise with
something besides the sun.
Encampments new! in the midst of you stands an encampment very old;
Stands forever the camp of the dead brigade.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Centenarian's Story: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Introduction
Walt Whitman's "The Centenarian's Story" is a poem that speaks to the human experience of aging and mortality. The poem is a conversation between a centenarian and a younger person, and through their dialogue, Whitman explores the themes of time, memory, and the human condition. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will analyze the poem in detail and explore its significance and meaning.
Analysis
The poem is structured as a conversation between the centenarian and a younger person. The centenarian begins by telling the younger person about his life and experiences. He talks about the changes he has seen over the course of his long life, and how time has affected him. He speaks of the people he has loved and lost, and the memories that remain with him. He also speaks of death and the afterlife, and his belief that there is something more beyond this life.
The poem is written in free verse, with no rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a conversational tone, as if the centenarian is speaking directly to the reader. The lack of form also reflects the theme of time, as time itself has no structure or order. The poem is divided into several stanzas, each with a different focus. This structure allows Whitman to explore different aspects of the centenarian's life and experiences.
The poem begins with the centenarian describing his age and the changes he has seen over the years:
"I asked him for old times' sake,
Old times,
to tell me his olden ways;
And soon, in quaint old proverbs, he
began his rambling tale."
Here, the centenarian is reflecting on his own mortality and the passing of time. He is aware that he is old and that his life is coming to an end. However, he still has a desire to share his story and his memories with others.
Throughout the poem, the centenarian speaks of his memories and the people he has loved and lost. He talks of his wife, who has passed away, and his children, who are now grown and have families of their own:
"And then he told how tenderly
His wife had loved him, and how she
Had borne him children, four strong boys,
And all are gone but him."
This passage is particularly poignant, as it highlights the theme of loss and the passage of time. The centenarian's wife and children are now gone, and he is the only one left. However, his memories of them remain with him, and he cherishes them.
The poem also touches on the theme of the afterlife and the belief in something beyond this life. The centenarian speaks of his belief in God and the idea that there is something more beyond this world:
"But then he said the good Lord's will
Was always best, and he was sure
That he would soon be with his wife
Where parting is no more."
This passage is significant, as it shows the centenarian's acceptance of his own mortality and his belief in something beyond death. It also highlights the idea that death is not the end, but rather a transition to something else.
Overall, "The Centenarian's Story" is a powerful exploration of the human experience of aging and mortality. Through the conversation between the centenarian and the younger person, Whitman explores the themes of time, memory, loss, and the afterlife. The poem is a reminder that we are all mortal, and that our time on this earth is limited. However, it also suggests that there is something more beyond this life, and that our memories and experiences can live on after we are gone.
Interpretation
"The Centenarian's Story" is a poem that speaks to the universal human experience of aging and mortality. Through the conversation between the centenarian and the younger person, Whitman explores the themes of time, memory, and the afterlife. The poem is a reminder that we are all mortal, and that our time on this earth is limited.
The poem also suggests that there is something more beyond this life. The centenarian's belief in God and the afterlife suggests that death is not the end, but rather a transition to something else. This idea can be comforting for those who are facing their own mortality, as it offers the hope of something beyond this world.
Whitman's use of free verse and conversational tone gives the poem a sense of intimacy and immediacy. The reader feels as if they are sitting in on a conversation between the centenarian and the younger person, and can relate to the themes and experiences being discussed.
Overall, "The Centenarian's Story" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the human experience of aging and mortality. It offers a reminder that our time on this earth is limited, but that our memories and experiences can live on after we are gone. It also suggests that there is something more beyond this life, and that death is not the end.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Centenarian's Story: A Poetic Journey Through Time
Walt Whitman's "The Centenarian's Story" is a timeless masterpiece that takes the reader on a journey through the life of a 100-year-old man. The poem is a celebration of life, a reflection on the past, and a reminder of the fleeting nature of time. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its significance.
Themes
The poem is centered around the theme of time and its impact on human life. The centenarian, who has lived for a century, reflects on his life and the changes he has witnessed. He speaks of the "old times" when he was young, and how everything has changed since then. He remembers the "war of 1812," the "great eclipse," and the "great comet" that he saw as a young man. He also speaks of the changes in technology and society, such as the "steamboats," the "railroads," and the "electric telegraph."
The poem also touches on the theme of mortality. The centenarian speaks of his own impending death, saying that he is "waiting for the end" and that he has "lived long enough." He reflects on the deaths of his loved ones, saying that they are all gone and that he is the last of his generation. He speaks of death as a natural part of life, saying that "death is beautiful" and that it is "the greatest of all lessons."
Another theme that runs through the poem is the idea of memory. The centenarian's memories are a source of comfort and joy for him. He speaks of his childhood memories, his memories of his wife and children, and his memories of the events he witnessed. He also speaks of the importance of memory, saying that "memory is the only thing that is real" and that it is "the only thing that lasts."
Structure
The poem is divided into three sections, each with its own distinct tone and focus. The first section is a reflection on the past, with the centenarian speaking of the events he witnessed in his youth. The second section is a reflection on the present, with the centenarian speaking of his own life and his impending death. The third section is a reflection on the future, with the centenarian speaking of the legacy he will leave behind.
Each section is composed of several stanzas, with each stanza consisting of four lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter. This gives the poem a natural, conversational tone, as if the centenarian is speaking directly to the reader.
Language
The language of the poem is simple and direct, yet rich in imagery and emotion. Whitman uses vivid descriptions to bring the centenarian's memories to life. For example, he describes the "great comet" as a "wonderful sight" and the "electric telegraph" as a "marvelous invention." He also uses repetition to emphasize certain ideas, such as the phrase "I remember" which appears throughout the poem.
One of the most striking aspects of the language in the poem is the use of the first person. The centenarian speaks directly to the reader, sharing his thoughts and feelings in a personal and intimate way. This creates a sense of empathy and connection between the reader and the centenarian, as if we are sharing in his experiences and emotions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Centenarian's Story" is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of time, mortality, and memory. Through the voice of the centenarian, Whitman reminds us of the importance of cherishing our memories, living in the present, and accepting the inevitability of death. The poem is a testament to the beauty and fragility of life, and a reminder to appreciate every moment we have.
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