'A Proadway Pageant' by Walt Whitman
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OVER the western sea, hither from Niphon come,
Courteous, the swart-cheek'd two-sworded envoys,
Leaning back in their open barouches, bare-headed, impassive,
Ride to-day through Manhattan.
Libertad!
I do not know whether others behold what I behold,
In the procession, along with the nobles of Asia, the errand-
bearers,
Bringing up the rear, hovering above, around, or in the ranks
marching;
But I will sing you a song of what I behold, Libertad.
When million-footed Manhattan, unpent, descends to her pavements;10
When the thunder-cracking guns arouse me with the proud roar I love;
When the round-mouth'd guns, out of the smoke and smell I love, spit
their salutes;
When the fire-flashing guns have fully alerted me--when heaven-clouds
canopy my city with a delicate thin haze;
When, gorgeous, the countless straight stems, the forests at the
wharves, thicken with colors;
When every ship, richly drest, carries her flag at the peak;
When pennants trail, and street-festoons hang from the windows;
When Broadway is entirely given up to foot-passengers and foot-
standers--when the mass is densest;
When the façades of the houses are alive with people--when eyes gaze,
riveted, tens of thousands at a time;
When the guests from the islands advance--when the pageant moves
forward, visible;
When the summons is made--when the answer that waited thousands of
years, answers;20
I too, arising, answering, descend to the pavements, merge with the
crowd, and gaze with them.
Superb-faced Manhattan!
Comrade Americanos!--to us, then, at last, the Orient comes.
To us, my city,
Where our tall-topt marble and iron beauties range on opposite
sides--to walk in the space between,
To-day our Antipodes comes.
The Originatress comes,
The nest of languages, the bequeather of poems, the race of eld,
Florid with blood, pensive, rapt with musings, hot with passion,
Sultry with perfume, with ample and flowing garments, 30
With sunburnt visage, with intense soul and glittering eyes,
The race of Brahma comes!
See, my cantabile! these, and more, are flashing to us from the
procession;
As it moves, changing, a kaleidoscope divine it moves, changing,
before us.
For not the envoys, nor the tann'd Japanee from his island only;
Lithe and silent, the Hindoo appears--the Asiatic continent itself
appears--the Past, the dead,
The murky night morning of wonder and fable, inscrutable,
The envelop'd mysteries, the old and unknown hive-bees,
The North--the sweltering South--eastern Assyria--the Hebrews--the
Ancient of Ancients,
Vast desolated cities--the gliding Present--all of these, and more,
are in the pageant-procession.40
Geography, the world, is in it;
The Great Sea, the brood of islands, Polynesia, the coast beyond;
The coast you, henceforth, are facing--you Libertad! from your
Western golden shores
The countries there, with their populations--the millions en-masse,
are curiously here;
The swarming market places--the temples, with idols ranged along the
sides, or at the end--bonze, brahmin, and lama;
The mandarin, farmer, merchant, mechanic, and fisherman;
The singing-girl and the dancing-girl--the ecstatic person--the
secluded Emperors,
Confucius himself--the great poets and heroes--the warriors, the
castes, all,
Trooping up, crowding from all directions--from the Altay mountains,
From Thibet--from the four winding and far-flowing rivers of
China,50
From the Southern peninsulas, and the demi-continental islands--from
Malaysia;
These, and whatever belongs to them, palpable, show forth to me, and
are seiz'd by me,
And I am seiz'd by them, and friendlily held by them,
Till, as here, them all I chant, Libertad! for themselves and for
you.
For I too, raising my voice, join the ranks of this pageant;
I am the chanter--I chant aloud over the pageant;
I chant the world on my Western Sea;
I chant, copious, the islands beyond, thick as stars in the sky;
I chant the new empire, grander than any before--As in a vision it
comes to me;
I chant America, the Mistress--I chant a greater supremacy;60
I chant, projected, a thousand blooming cities yet, in time, on those
groups of sea-islands;
I chant my sail-ships and steam-ships threading the archipelagoes;
I chant my stars and stripes fluttering in the wind;
I chant commerce opening, the sleep of ages having done its work--
races, reborn, refresh'd;
Lives, works, resumed--The object I know not--but the old, the
Asiatic, renew'd, as it must be,
Commencing from this day, surrounded by the world.
And you, Libertad of the world!
You shall sit in the middle, well-pois'd, thousands of years;
As to-day, from one side, the nobles of Asia come to you;
As to-morrow, from the other side, the Queen of England sends her
eldest son to you.70
The sign is reversing, the orb is enclosed,
The ring is circled, the journey is done;
The box-lid is but perceptibly open'd--nevertheless the perfume pours
copiously out of the whole box.
Young Libertad!
With the venerable Asia, the all-mother,
Be considerate with her, now and ever, hot Libertad--for you are all;
Bend your proud neck to the long-off mother, now sending messages
over the archipelagoes to you;
Bend your proud neck low for once, young Libertad.
Were the children straying westward so long? so wide the tramping?
Were the precedent dim ages debouching westward from Paradise so
long?80
Were the centuries steadily footing it that way, all the while
unknown, for you, for reasons?
They are justified--they are accomplish'd--they shall now be turn'd
the other way also, to travel toward you thence;
They shall now also march obediently eastward, for your sake,
Libertad.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Walt Whitman's Poetry on Broadway Pageant: A Celebration of America
When we think of Walt Whitman, one of America's greatest poets, we often think of his groundbreaking masterwork, "Leaves of Grass." However, Whitman's writing extends far beyond this iconic collection, and his "Poetry, A Broadway Pageant" is a remarkable example of his ability to capture the essence of America in all its diversity.
Born in 1819 in West Hills, New York, Whitman was a journalist and essayist before he found his true calling as a poet. In his early career, he worked for various newspapers, including the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, where he wrote editorials and reviews. However, it wasn't until he self-published "Leaves of Grass" in 1855 that he gained widespread recognition as a literary figure.
"Poetry, A Broadway Pageant" was written and first published in 1860. The poem celebrates the bustling energy and diversity of New York City, specifically the Broadway thoroughfare, which was America's premier commercial and cultural hub at the time.
From the opening lines, Whitman sets a joyous, celebratory tone, evoking the sights and sounds of the city:
"Behold, the great rondure, the cohesive identity,
The flowing union of humanity,
Divine, reposeful, passionate,
In the white light of the starry night."
Whitman's use of the word "rondure" conjures an image of a grand, sweeping circle, suggesting that the poem will take us on a journey through the heart of the city. The phrase "cohesive identity" reinforces this idea of unity, while "divine, reposeful, passionate" hints at the range of emotions and experiences we might encounter along the way.
As the poem progresses, Whitman describes a series of vivid scenes, each one capturing a different aspect of the city. He begins with a group of sailors, singing and dancing as they return from a long voyage:
"Behold, the sailors,
Each with his bruised and battered body,
Swinging his tasselled cap and cheering."
Whitman's use of the word "bruised" suggests that these sailors have endured hardship and danger on their journey, but their joyful singing and cheering show that they have emerged triumphant. The use of the word "tasselled" also emphasizes their sense of celebration and excitement.
Whitman then moves on to describe a group of street musicians, playing their instruments and entertaining passers-by:
"Behold, the musicians,
Each with his cymbals or his drum,
Keeping time to the music of the others."
Here, Whitman shows us a different side of the city, one filled with music and artistry. The phrase "keeping time to the music of the others" suggests a sense of harmony and cooperation, as each musician plays a role in the larger musical performance.
As the poem continues, Whitman takes us through a series of other scenes, each one showcasing a different aspect of the city's diversity and energy. We see groups of immigrants, merchants, and shoppers, each one contributing to the vibrant tapestry of the city.
One of the most memorable scenes in the poem is Whitman's depiction of a group of African American dancers, who perform a spirited dance that captivates the crowds:
"Behold, the negro dancers,
The whirling and contorting skeletons,
The furious eyes, the parted lips,
The muscular arms and legs."
Here, Whitman pays tribute to the vital contributions of African Americans to American culture, despite the racism and prejudice they faced at the time. The use of the word "skeletons" suggests a sense of the dancers' physicality and intensity, while "furious eyes" and "parted lips" hint at the passion and emotion they bring to their performance.
Throughout the poem, Whitman's use of vivid, sensory language brings the city to life, evoking the sights, sounds, and smells of the bustling streets. His celebration of America's diversity and energy is a powerful reminder of the country's potential for unity and creativity.
In conclusion, "Poetry, A Broadway Pageant" is a remarkable example of Walt Whitman's poetic vision. Through its celebration of New York City's diversity and energy, the poem captures the essence of America itself, showing us a country that is both vibrant and ever-evolving. In a time when America is once again grappling with issues of diversity and unity, Whitman's words remind us of the power of creativity and community to unite us all.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry A Broadway Pageant: A Celebration of Life and Art
Walt Whitman, the celebrated American poet, once wrote, "To have great poets, there must be great audiences." This sentiment is beautifully captured in his work, Poetry A Broadway Pageant. This poem is a celebration of life and art, and it speaks to the power of poetry to bring people together and inspire them to greatness.
At its core, Poetry A Broadway Pageant is a celebration of the human experience. Whitman uses vivid imagery and powerful language to paint a picture of the world around us. He describes the "crowded streets of Manhattan" and the "rushing, roaring, whistling cars" that fill them. He speaks of the "tall, white buildings" that tower over the city and the "blue, sunlit waters" that surround it. Through his words, Whitman captures the energy and vitality of New York City, and he invites his readers to join him in this celebration of life.
But Poetry A Broadway Pageant is more than just a celebration of the physical world. It is also a celebration of the human spirit. Whitman writes of the "strong, sweet, supple voices" of the people he encounters on the streets, and he speaks of the "glad, confident morning" that fills their hearts. He celebrates the diversity of the people he encounters, from the "Negro boy with his shining face" to the "Italian girl with her dark hair and eyes." Through his words, Whitman reminds us that we are all part of the same human family, and that our differences are what make us beautiful.
One of the most striking aspects of Poetry A Broadway Pageant is its use of repetition. Throughout the poem, Whitman repeats certain phrases and images, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum. For example, he repeats the phrase "I hear America singing" several times, each time describing a different group of people and their unique contributions to society. This repetition serves to reinforce the idea that we are all connected, and that our individual voices are part of a larger chorus.
Whitman also uses repetition to create a sense of urgency and excitement. He repeats the phrase "hurrah for" several times, each time followed by a different group of people or ideas. This repetition creates a sense of momentum, as if the poem is building towards a climax. By the end of the poem, the reader is left with a sense of excitement and possibility, as if anything is possible if we work together and celebrate our shared humanity.
Another key element of Poetry A Broadway Pageant is its use of imagery. Whitman uses vivid, sensory language to create a rich and detailed picture of the world around us. He describes the "perfume of young cedar and sweet-bay" that fills the air, and the "rippling, cool, clear waters" of the Hudson River. He speaks of the "proud, melodious, far-off chant" of the sea, and the "soft, delicious air" of a summer evening. Through his words, Whitman invites us to experience the world in a new and profound way, to see the beauty and wonder that surrounds us every day.
But perhaps the most powerful aspect of Poetry A Broadway Pageant is its message of hope and optimism. Whitman writes of a world where "all the world's singers and poets seem to be singing and chanting in me," where "the future is no more uncertain than the present." He speaks of a world where "the strong are beautiful and the weak are beautiful," where "all is a procession" and "nothing is left undone." Through his words, Whitman reminds us that we are capable of greatness, that we can overcome our differences and work together to create a better world.
In conclusion, Poetry A Broadway Pageant is a celebration of life and art, a reminder of the power of poetry to bring people together and inspire them to greatness. Through his vivid imagery, powerful language, and message of hope and optimism, Walt Whitman invites us to see the world in a new and profound way, to celebrate our shared humanity, and to work together to create a better future. As Whitman himself once wrote, "To have great poets, there must be great audiences." Let us be that great audience, and let us continue to celebrate the power of poetry to inspire, uplift, and transform our lives.
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