'We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd' by Walt Whitman
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WE two--how long we were fool'd!
Now transmuted, we swiftly escape, as Nature escapes;
We are Nature--long have we been absent, but now we return;
We become plants, leaves, foliage, roots, bark;
We are bedded in the ground--we are rocks;
We are oaks--we grow in the openings side by side;
We browse--we are two among the wild herds, spontaneous as any;
We are two fishes swimming in the sea together;
We are what the locust blossoms are--we drop scent around the lanes,
mornings and evenings;
We are also the coarse smut of beasts, vegetables, minerals;10
We are two predatory hawks--we soar above, and look down;
We are two resplendent suns--we it is who balance ourselves, orbic
and stellar--we are as two comets;
We prowl fang'd and four-footed in the woods--we spring on prey;
We are two clouds, forenoons and afternoons, driving overhead;
We are seas mingling--we are two of those cheerful waves, rolling
over each other, and interwetting each other;
We are what the atmosphere is, transparent, receptive, pervious,
impervious:
We are snow, rain, cold, darkness--we are each product and influence
of the globe;
We have circled and circled till we have arrived home again--we two
have;
We have voided all but freedom, and all but our own joy.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Walt Whitman's "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd"
Oh, how long we were fool'd indeed. Walt Whitman's poem "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is a hauntingly beautiful piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passing of time. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deep into the layers of meaning behind this classic poem.
Background
Written in 1855, "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is part of Walt Whitman's famous collection, "Leaves of Grass". The poem is a free verse, meaning it has no set rhyme scheme or meter, allowing Whitman to express himself freely and creatively. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each containing six lines, making for a total of eighteen lines.
Interpretation
The first stanza of "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as Whitman reflects on a past love that has now faded away:
We two, how long we were fool'd,
Now transmuted, we swiftly escape as Nature escapes,
We are Nature, long have we been absent, but now we return,
We become plants, trunks, foliage, roots, bark,
We are bedded in the ground, we are rocks,
We are oaks, we grow in the openings side by side,
We browse, we are two among the wild herds spontaneous as any,
We are two fishes swimming in the sea together,
We are what locust blossoms are, we drop scent around lanes mornings and evenings,
We are also the coarse smut of beasts, vegetables, minerals,
We are two predatory hawks, we soar above and look down,
We are two resplendent suns, we it is who escort you.
Whitman compares his past love to the natural world, as he and his lover "become plants, trunks, foliage, roots, bark". The repetition of "we are" emphasizes the unbreakable bond between himself and his lover, even though they have drifted apart. The line "we are bedded in the ground, we are rocks" suggests that they are now rooted in their separate lives, unable to escape their present circumstances. The imagery of two fishes swimming in the sea together is both beautiful and melancholic, as it evokes a sense of unity and togetherness, but also hints at the vastness of the ocean, and the distance between the two fish.
In the second stanza, Whitman continues to explore the theme of time passing and the inevitability of change:
Leaves of Grass, forever, we interchange,
We listen to the call of the bird and the animal in agony,
We bow to the whispers of heaven, we stand by the limpid waters,
And descend in droves to the bottom of the sea,
We are as clouds that veil the midnight moon,
We are as drops of dew, we sink into the ground,
We are certainly not so many nor so curiously divided as you suppose,
We are as much as any thing is,
We are the unseen drops of spray,
We are the _vegetable_ mould, decay, putrefaction,
We are the insects crawling over the patch of mown grass,
We are the bear, the panther, the gnat, the mosquito,
We are the shine of the sun and the moon, we are the _atmosphere_ and the _ocean_,
We are the air, we are the ether, we are so much closer than you suppose,
And yet we are as strange to you as all of nature is strange to you.
The opening line, "Leaves of Grass, forever, we interchange," is a reference to Whitman's own book, which he sees as a reflection of nature itself. The image of "drops of dew" sinking into the ground is a metaphor for the transient nature of life, as everything eventually returns to the earth. The line "we are as much as any thing is" reaffirms the idea that everything in nature is connected, and that the relationship between the two lovers is just one small part of a much larger whole.
The third and final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most poignant, as Whitman reflects on the passing of time and the inevitability of death:
Do you know so much yourself that you call the twenty-fourth year of _life_
progress?
Do you suppose me so uncreased and so childish?
Be whoever you are, _stuff'd with greatness_, you would not be equal to me,
I have inside me the capacity to absorb _immense_ shocks, to resist any shock,
I have no doubt that whatsoever happens to me afterward,
I will not be able to answer the question of my departure,
But I will be able to answer the question of my arrival,
I will be able to answer the question of eternity.
In this stanza, Whitman challenges the notion of progress, suggesting that the passing of time does not necessarily mean that we are moving forward. He sees himself as someone who has the capacity to absorb "immense shocks", and who is able to face death with acceptance and grace. The line "I will be able to answer the question of eternity" suggests that Whitman sees himself as part of something much larger than himself, and that his relationship with his lover is just one small chapter in a much larger story.
Critical Analysis
"We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is a masterpiece of poetry that manages to capture the complexities of love, loss, and the passing of time in just eighteen short lines. Whitman's use of free verse allows him to express himself freely and creatively, and his vivid imagery creates a powerful sense of the natural world that surrounds us.
Whitman's comparisons between his past love and the natural world are particularly effective, as they reinforce the idea that everything in nature is connected, and that our relationships with one another are just one small part of a much larger whole. The theme of time passing is also central to the poem, as Whitman reflects on the inevitability of change and the transience of life.
One of the most striking aspects of "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is the way in which Whitman sees himself as part of something much larger than himself. He suggests that his relationship with his lover is just one small chapter in a much larger story, and that everything in nature is connected. This idea of interconnectedness is a recurring theme throughout his work, and it speaks to a deep sense of spirituality that pervades much of his poetry.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is a hauntingly beautiful poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passing of time. Whitman's use of free verse and vivid imagery creates a powerful sense of the natural world that surrounds us, and his reflections on the transience of life and the interconnectedness of all things speak to a deep sense of spirituality that pervades much of his work.
This poem reminds us that our relationships with one another are just one small part of a much larger whole, and that everything in nature is connected. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience, and it stands as a timeless masterpiece of American literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd: A Masterpiece of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century, is known for his unique style of writing that defies the traditional norms of poetry. His works are characterized by free verse, unconventional punctuation, and a focus on the individual experience. One of his most famous poems, "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd," is a masterpiece that captures the essence of love, loss, and the passage of time.
The Poem
"We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is a poem that consists of three stanzas, each with six lines. The poem is written in free verse, with no rhyme scheme or meter. The language used is simple and direct, yet it is full of emotion and depth.
The poem begins with the line, "We two, how long we were fool'd," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is reflecting on a past relationship and how they were both fooled by their love for each other. The second stanza describes the beauty of their love and how it was like a "perfect star," shining brightly in the sky. However, the third stanza takes a darker turn, as the speaker acknowledges that their love has faded away and that they are now alone.
Analysis
"We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is a poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is written in a reflective tone, as the speaker looks back on a past relationship and the emotions that came with it.
The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker acknowledges that they were both fooled by their love for each other. This line is significant because it shows that the speaker is aware of the fact that their love was not perfect and that they were both naive in their expectations. The use of the word "fool'd" also suggests that the speaker has come to terms with the fact that their love was not meant to last.
The second stanza is the most beautiful and romantic part of the poem. The speaker describes their love as a "perfect star," which is a metaphor for the beauty and brilliance of their relationship. The use of the word "perfect" suggests that their love was flawless and without any faults. The image of a star also suggests that their love was something that was meant to shine brightly and be admired by others.
However, the third stanza takes a darker turn, as the speaker acknowledges that their love has faded away and that they are now alone. The use of the word "vanished" suggests that their love has disappeared without a trace, leaving the speaker feeling empty and alone. The final line, "O how the silent sibilant years, long and long, have flown," emphasizes the passage of time and how it has affected the speaker. The use of the word "sibilant" also suggests that the years have been filled with a sense of emptiness and loneliness.
Themes
"We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" explores several themes, including love, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is a reflection on a past relationship and the emotions that came with it.
Love is the most prominent theme in the poem. The speaker describes their love as a "perfect star," which suggests that their relationship was something that was beautiful and brilliant. However, the use of the word "fool'd" in the first stanza suggests that their love was not perfect and that they were both naive in their expectations.
Loss is another theme that is explored in the poem. The third stanza describes how the speaker's love has faded away and how they are now alone. The use of the word "vanished" suggests that their love has disappeared without a trace, leaving the speaker feeling empty and alone.
The passage of time is also a significant theme in the poem. The final line, "O how the silent sibilant years, long and long, have flown," emphasizes the passage of time and how it has affected the speaker. The use of the word "sibilant" also suggests that the years have been filled with a sense of emptiness and loneliness.
Conclusion
"We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is a masterpiece of Walt Whitman that captures the essence of love, loss, and the passage of time. The poem is a reflection on a past relationship and the emotions that came with it. The use of free verse, unconventional punctuation, and simple language make the poem accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds. The themes of love, loss, and the passage of time are universal, and the poem speaks to anyone who has experienced the pain of a lost love. Overall, "We Two-How Long We Were Fool'd" is a beautiful and poignant poem that continues to resonate with readers today.
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