Walt Whitman as a Voice for the People

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Walt Whitman as a Voice for the People

"The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as much as he absorbs his country."

This brilliant quote from Walt Whitman thus ends his preface to Leaves of Grass, and thereafter begins the poem "Song of Myself." To many, upon their first reading, this was a crude, shocking and distasteful piece of work. but to me...this was a celebration of life. And not just a celebration of his own life, but of every life, of the American life. Walt Whitman is the "voice of the people" and this I believe because, while he did write of things that were not seen as aesthetically beautiful by many...including homosexuality, loneliness, and death. And while these topics were not picturesque to many people, they are life. Real life. And this is what I, as a reader, loves the most about "Song of Myself". His voices is a fresher wind from those that came before him. Whitman offered an entirely new style that could make even similar subject matter seem incredibly different, and embody entirely opposite emotions. America was finally allowed to step out into the windí and learn how refreshing truth can be. Walt Whitman was the voice of every American.

First of all, I love the awareness that Whitman has of his own life, and of everyone elseís life. He hides nothing of himself from the reader, and offers himself truthfully, saying:

"Welcome is every organ and attribute of me, and of any man

hearty and clean,

Not an inch nore a particle of an inch is vile, and none shall be less

familiar than the rest"

(section 3, lines 49-51)

We are able to see that this poet has such a love of life, acceptance of order, and honesty to offer. In turn he allows the ...

... middle of paper ...

...e. Nothing is insignificant when seen through Whitmanís eyes. Also, in this subject, we really see his Pantheist view coming out loud and clear when we writes:

"I hear and behold God in every object, yet I understand God not

in the least,

Nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself."

(lines 1274-5)

I found Walt Whitman to be an incredible poet, and I loved his writing style. He had the ability to make everything significant, and natural. He had a way of letting everything fall into itís own place, without casting a certain order. I will conclude by leaving you with Whitmanís own words, in the hopes that they will inspire you as much as they have me:

"Long enough have you dreamed contemptible dreams,

Now I wash the gum from your eyes,

You must habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every

moment of your life."

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