'These , I, Singing In Spring' by Walt Whitman
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THESE, I, singing in spring, collect for lovers,
(For who but I should understand lovers, and all their sorrow and
joy?
And who but I should be the poet of comrades?)
Collecting, I traverse the garden, the world--but soon I pass the
gates,
Now along the pond-side--now wading in a little, fearing not the wet,
Now by the post-and-rail fences, where the old stones thrown there,
pick'd from the fields, have accumulated,
(Wild-flowers and vines and weeds come up through the stones, and
partly cover them--Beyond these I pass,)
Far, far in the forest, before I think where I go,
Solitary, smelling the earthy smell, stopping now and then in the
silence,
Alone I had thought--yet soon a troop gathers around me,10
Some walk by my side, and some behind, and some embrace my arms or
neck,
They, the spirits of dear friends, dead or alive--thicker they come,
a great crowd, and I in the middle,
Collecting, dispensing, singing in spring, there I wander with them,
Plucking something for tokens--tossing toward whoever is near me;
Here! lilac, with a branch of pine,
Here, out of my pocket, some moss which I pull'd off a live-oak in
Florida, as it hung trailing down,
Here, some pinks and laurel leaves, and a handful of sage,
And here what I now draw from the water, wading in the pondside,
(O here I last saw him that tenderly loves me--and returns again,
never to separate from me,
And this, O this shall henceforth be the token of comrades--this
Calamus-root shall,20
Interchange it, youths, with each other! Let none render it back!)
And twigs of maple, and a bunch of wild orange, and chestnut,
And stems of currants, and plum-blows, and the aromatic cedar:
These, I, compass'd around by a thick cloud of spirits,
Wandering, point to, or touch as I pass, or throw them loosely from
me,
Indicating to each one what he shall have--giving something to each;
But what I drew from the water by the pond-side, that I reserve,
I will give of it--but only to them that love, as I myself am capable
of loving.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"These, I, Singing in Spring" by Walt Whitman: An Ode to Life and Renewal
Walt Whitman's "These, I, Singing in Spring" is a poetic masterpiece that celebrates the joy of life and the renewal of nature. Written in free verse, the poem is a series of lyrical and meditative reflections on the beauty and the transience of life. Through vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Whitman captures the essence of spring, the season of renewal, and invites the reader to embrace the beauty of life and the joy of being alive.
Background and Context
Walt Whitman (1819-1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist, best known for his collection of poems, "Leaves of Grass". He is often referred to as the father of free verse, a form of poetry that eschews traditional meter and rhyme and emphasizes the natural rhythms and cadences of speech. Whitman's poetry is characterized by its expansiveness, its celebration of democracy, and its embrace of all aspects of human experience, including sensuality, spirituality, and mortality.
"These, I, Singing in Spring" was first published in 1892, in the final edition of "Leaves of Grass", shortly before Whitman's death. The poem is part of a larger series of poems that Whitman wrote on the theme of spring, which he saw as a season of renewal and rebirth. In "These, I, Singing in Spring", Whitman celebrates the beauty and the vitality of the natural world, and reflects on the transience of life and the inevitability of death.
Analysis
The poem opens with an invocation of spring, the season of renewal:
These, I, singing in spring, collect for lovers,
(For who but I should understand lovers, and all their sorrow and joy?
And who but I should be the poet of comrades?)
Here, Whitman identifies himself as the singer of spring, the one who collects its treasures for lovers. He asserts his understanding of the joys and sorrows of love, and his role as the poet of comrades, or friends. This opening creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, as if the reader is invited to join Whitman in his celebration of life.
The second stanza continues the theme of renewal, as Whitman describes the emerging signs of spring:
I am the poet of the body,
And I am the poet of the soul.
The pleasures of heaven are with me, and the pains of hell are with me,
The first I graft and increase upon myself—the latter I translate into a new tongue.```
Whitman identifies himself as both the poet of the body and the soul, suggesting that his poetry embraces all aspects of human experience. He acknowledges the presence of both pleasure and pain in life, and suggests that he is able to transform the latter into something new and beautiful.
The third stanza expands on the theme of renewal, as Whitman describes the unfolding of spring:
I am the poet of the woman the same as the man, And I say it is as great to be a woman as to be a man, And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of men.
I chant the chant of dilation or pride, We have had ducking and deprecating about enough, I show that size is only development.
Here, Whitman asserts the equality of men and women, and celebrates the power of motherhood. He suggests that there is nothing greater than the mother of men, who brings new life into the world. He also rejects the notion that smallness is a sign of weakness, and asserts that size is only a measure of development.
The fourth stanza takes a more contemplative turn, as Whitman reflects on the transience of life:
Have you outstript the rest? are you the President? It is a trifle—they will more than arrive there every one, and still pass on.
I am he that walks with the tender and growing night, I call to the earth and sea half-held by the night.
Here, Whitman questions whether achievement and success are really important in the face of the larger cycles of life and death. He suggests that we are all part of a larger process of growth and decay, and that our individual accomplishments are relatively insignificant. He also identifies himself as a walker, a wanderer who is at home in the natural world.
The fifth stanza returns to the theme of renewal, as Whitman describes the unfolding of spring in more detail:
Press close bare-bosom'd night—press close magnetic nourishing night! Night of south winds—night of the large few stars! Still nodding night—mad naked summer night.
Smile O voluptuous cool-breath'd earth! Earth of the slumbering and liquid trees! Earth of departed sunset—earth of the mountains misty-topt!
Here, Whitman addresses the night, which he sees as a nourishing and nurturing presence. He celebrates the warmth and sensuality of the summer night, and suggests that even in the darkness, there is a beauty and a vitality that sustains us. He also describes the earth as a place of rest and renewal, a place where the trees and the mountains and the sunsets all contribute to the larger cycle of life.
The sixth and final stanza brings the poem to a close, as Whitman reflects on the joy of being alive:
O lands! O all so dear to me! what you are, I become part of that, Whatever it is that you say, I become a part of that.
My spirit has pass'd in compassion and determination around the whole earth, I have look'd for equals and lovers and found them ready for me in all lands, I think some divine rapport has equal'd me with them.
Here, Whitman suggests that he is a part of the larger world, and that whatever happens in it, he is connected to it. He expresses his compassion for all living things, and his determination to be part of the larger process of growth and renewal. He also suggests that he has found friends and equals all around the world, and that there is a divine rapport that connects him to them.
## Interpretation
At its core, "These, I, Singing in Spring" is a celebration of life and the renewal of nature. It is a poem that invites the reader to embrace the beauty of the natural world, and to find joy in the simple pleasures of being alive. Through his use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Whitman captures the essence of spring, and invites the reader to participate in the larger cycle of growth and decay.
One of the key themes of the poem is the transience of life. Whitman suggests that even as we celebrate the joys of spring, we must also acknowledge the inevitability of death. He reminds us that we are all part of a larger cycle of growth and decay, and that our individual accomplishments are relatively insignificant in the face of this larger process. However, he also suggests that there is a beauty and a vitality in this process, and that even in the darkness, there is a light that sustains us.
Another theme of the poem is the importance of connection. Whitman identifies himself as the poet of comrades, and suggests that we are all connected to each other in some way. He celebrates the equality of men and women, and the power of motherhood. He also suggests that there is a divine rapport that connects us all, and that we are all part of the larger process of growth and renewal.
Overall, "These, I, Singing in Spring" is a powerful and evocative poem that celebrates the joy of life and the renewal of nature. Through his use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Whitman captures the essence of spring, and invites the reader to participate in the larger cycle of growth and decay. This poem is a testament to the enduring power of nature, and a celebration of the simple pleasures of being alive.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Walt Whitman's "These, I, Singing in Spring" is a classic poem that captures the essence of the season of spring. The poem is a celebration of life, nature, and the human spirit. It is a beautiful piece of literature that has stood the test of time and continues to inspire readers today.
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of spring. The first section is a celebration of the natural world. Whitman describes the beauty of the spring landscape, with its flowers, birds, and trees. He marvels at the way the world comes alive in the spring, and he revels in the joy and energy of the season.
The second section of the poem is a celebration of the human spirit. Whitman writes about the way that people come alive in the spring, just like the natural world around them. He describes the way that people are filled with energy and enthusiasm, and he celebrates the way that they express themselves through art, music, and poetry.
The final section of the poem is a celebration of the poet himself. Whitman writes about the way that he is inspired by the beauty of the spring, and he celebrates his own ability to capture that beauty in his poetry. He describes the way that his poetry is a reflection of his own spirit, and he celebrates the way that it connects him to the world around him.
Throughout the poem, Whitman uses a variety of poetic techniques to convey his message. He uses repetition to emphasize the themes of the poem, and he uses imagery to create vivid pictures in the reader's mind. He also uses sound devices like alliteration and assonance to create a musical quality to the poem.
One of the most striking things about the poem is its sense of joy and celebration. Whitman is clearly in love with the world around him, and he wants to share that love with his readers. He celebrates the beauty of nature, the energy of the human spirit, and the power of poetry to capture it all.
Another important aspect of the poem is its sense of unity. Whitman sees the world as a connected whole, and he celebrates the way that everything is interconnected. He sees the natural world and the human world as part of the same system, and he celebrates the way that they work together to create something beautiful.
Overall, "These, I, Singing in Spring" is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of the season of spring. It is a celebration of life, nature, and the human spirit, and it is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the beauty of the world around us. Whitman's use of poetic techniques and his sense of joy and celebration make this poem a true classic, and it continues to inspire readers today.
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