'Scented Herbage Of My Breast' by Walt Whitman
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SCENTED herbage of my breast,
Leaves from you I yield, I write, to be perused best afterwards,
Tomb-leaves, body-leaves, growing up above me, above death,
Perennial roots, tall leaves--O the winter shall not freeze you,
delicate leaves,
Every year shall you bloom again--out from where you retired, you
shall emerge again;
O I do not know whether many, passing by, will discover you, or
inhale your faint odor--but I believe a few will;
O slender leaves! O blossoms of my blood! I permit you to tell, in
your own way, of the heart that is under you;
O burning and throbbing--surely all will one day be accomplish'd;
O I do not know what you mean, there underneath yourselves--you are
not happiness,
You are often more bitter than I can bear--you burn and sting me,10
Yet you are very beautiful to me, you faint-tinged roots--you make me
think of Death,
Death is beautiful from you--(what indeed is finally beautiful,
except Death and Love?)
--O I think it is not for life I am chanting here my chant of
lovers--I think it must be for Death,
For how calm, how solemn it grows, to ascend to the atmosphere of
lovers,
Death or life I am then indifferent--my Soul declines to prefer,
I am not sure but the high Soul of lovers welcomes death most;
Indeed, O Death, I think now these leaves mean precisely the same as
you mean;
Grow up taller, sweet leaves, that I may see! grow up out of my
breast!
Spring away from the conceal'd heart there!
Do not fold yourself so in your pink-tinged roots, timid leaves!20
Do not remain down there so ashamed, herbage of my breast!
Come, I am determin'd to unbare this broad breast of mine--I have
long enough stifled and choked:
--Emblematic and capricious blade, I leave you--now you serve me not;
Away! I will say what I have to say, by itself,
I will escape from the sham that was proposed to me,
I will sound myself and comrades only--I will never again utter a
call, only their call,
I will raise, with it, immortal reverberations through The States,
I will give an example to lovers, to take permanent shape and will
through The States;
Through me shall the words be said to make death exhilarating;
Give me your tone therefore, O Death, that I may accord with it,30
Give me yourself--for I see that you belong to me now above all, and
are folded inseparably together--you Love and Death are;
Nor will I allow you to balk me any more with what I was calling
life,
For now it is convey'd to me that you are the purports essential,
That you hide in these shifting forms of life, for reasons--and that
they are mainly for you,
That you, beyond them, come forth, to remain, the real reality,
That behind the mask of materials you patiently wait, no matter how
long,
That you will one day, perhaps, take control of all,
That you will perhaps dissipate this entire show of appearance,
That may-be you are what it is all for--but it does not last so very
long;
But you will last very long.40
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Allure of Scented Herbage Of My Breast by Walt Whitman
As I read through the lines of Walt Whitman's "Scented Herbage Of My Breast" for the umpteenth time, I can't help but wonder what makes this poem a classic. Is it the poet's use of free verse, his vivid imagery, or the raw emotion that is palpable in every stanza? Perhaps it's a combination of all these elements that have made this poem stand the test of time.
The Poet's Use of Free Verse
One of the most striking features of "Scented Herbage Of My Breast" is the poet's use of free verse. Whitman was one of the pioneers of this style of poetry which allowed him to break away from the traditional rules of rhyme and meter. Instead, he relied on the natural cadence of speech to create a rhythm in his poems.
In "Scented Herbage Of My Breast," we can see how free verse allows the poet to convey his emotions in a raw and unfiltered way. The lack of strict form gives the poem a sense of spontaneity and improvisation. The lines flow freely from one to the other, as if the poet is speaking directly to us.
Vivid Imagery
Whitman's use of imagery is another aspect of his poetry that sets him apart. In "Scented Herbage Of My Breast," he invokes a range of senses to create a vivid picture of the natural world. We can see, smell, and even taste the world that the poet is describing.
For instance, in the opening lines of the poem, Whitman writes:
Scented herbage of my breast,
Leaves from you I glean, I write, to be perused best afterwards,
Tomb-leaves, body-leaves, growing up above me, above death,
Perennial roots, tall leaves, O the winter shall not freeze you delicate leaves,
Every year shall you bloom again, out from where you retired you shall emerge again;
O I do not know whether many passing by will discover you or inhale your faint odour,
But I believe a few will;
Here, the poet uses the sense of smell to describe the herbage that he is writing about. He also invokes the image of tomb-leaves and body-leaves, which creates a sense of mortality and the cyclical nature of life.
Raw Emotion
Finally, it's impossible to discuss "Scented Herbage Of My Breast" without acknowledging the raw emotion that is present in every line. Whitman writes from the heart, and his poetry is an attempt to capture the essence of the human experience.
In this poem, we can feel the poet's sense of wonder and awe at the beauty of nature. We can also sense his own mortality and his desire to be remembered long after he is gone. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the fleeting moments of life and make them immortal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Scented Herbage Of My Breast" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time for good reason. Whitman's use of free verse, vivid imagery, and raw emotion make this poem a powerful testament to the human experience. As I read these lines yet again, I am struck by the timeless quality of Whitman's poetry, and I am reminded of the enduring power of literature to capture the essence of what it means to be human.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Scented Herbage Of My Breast: An Analysis of Walt Whitman's Classic Poem
Walt Whitman is one of the most celebrated poets of all time, and his works continue to inspire and move readers to this day. One of his most famous poems is "Poetry Scented Herbage Of My Breast," which was first published in 1860 as part of his collection "Leaves of Grass." In this poem, Whitman explores the power of poetry and its ability to connect us to the natural world. In this analysis, we will take a closer look at the themes, imagery, and language used in this classic poem.
Themes
At its core, "Poetry Scented Herbage Of My Breast" is a poem about the power of poetry itself. Whitman celebrates the ability of poetry to connect us to the natural world and to help us understand our place in it. He also explores the idea that poetry is a form of spiritual nourishment, something that can sustain us in times of hardship and struggle.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of unity. Whitman sees poetry as a way to connect us to the world around us, to help us see ourselves as part of a larger whole. He writes, "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, / If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles." This line speaks to the idea that we are all connected, that we are all part of the same cycle of life and death. Whitman sees poetry as a way to help us understand this connection and to feel a sense of unity with the world around us.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of transformation. Whitman sees poetry as a transformative force, something that can change us and help us grow. He writes, "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." This line speaks to the idea that poetry can help us navigate the highs and lows of life, that it can help us find meaning and purpose in our experiences.
Imagery
Whitman's use of imagery in "Poetry Scented Herbage Of My Breast" is both vivid and evocative. He uses images of nature to help us understand the power of poetry and its ability to connect us to the world around us. For example, he writes, "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, / If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles." This image of growing from the grass speaks to the idea that we are all part of the natural world, that we are all connected to the earth.
Whitman also uses imagery of the body to explore the transformative power of poetry. He writes, "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." This image of the body speaks to the idea that poetry can help us navigate the physical and emotional experiences of life, that it can help us find meaning and purpose in our struggles.
Language
Whitman's use of language in "Poetry Scented Herbage Of My Breast" is both powerful and poetic. He uses repetition and alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and musicality in the poem. For example, he writes, "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, / If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles." The repetition of the "I" sound in this line creates a sense of unity and connection, emphasizing the idea that we are all part of the same cycle of life and death.
Whitman also uses language to explore the transformative power of poetry. He writes, "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 use of the word "poet" in this line emphasizes the idea that poetry is a transformative force, something that can help us navigate the highs and lows of life.
Conclusion
"Poetry Scented Herbage Of My Breast" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the transformative power of poetry. Whitman uses imagery of nature and the body to help us understand the connection between poetry and the world around us. He also emphasizes the idea that poetry is a form of spiritual nourishment, something that can sustain us in times of hardship and struggle. Through his use of language and imagery, Whitman creates a sense of unity and connection, emphasizing the idea that we are all part of the same cycle of life and death. This classic poem continues to inspire and move readers to this day, reminding us of the power of poetry to help us understand ourselves and the world around us.
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