Beat! Beat! Drums! - A poem by Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman - Beat! Beat! Drums!

1
BEAT! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow! 
Through the windows—through doors—burst like a ruthless force, 
Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation; 
Into the school where the scholar is studying; 
Leave not the bridegroom quiet—no happiness must he have now with his bride;
Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, plowing his field or gathering his grain; 
So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums—so shrill you bugles blow. 
  
2
Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow! 
Over the traffic of cities—over the rumble of wheels in the streets: 
Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? No sleepers must sleep in those
    beds;
No bargainers’ bargains by day—no brokers or speculators—Would they
    continue? 
Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing? 
Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge? 
Then rattle quicker, heavier drums—you bugles wilder blow. 
  
3
Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow!
Make no parley—stop for no expostulation; 
Mind not the timid—mind not the weeper or prayer; 
Mind not the old man beseeching the young man; 
Let not the child’s voice be heard, nor the mother’s entreaties; 
Make even the trestles to shake the dead, where they lie awaiting the hearses,
So strong you thump, O terrible drums—so loud you bugles blow.

Added: on January 21st, 2006 at 12:52 PM | Viewed: 10501 times | Comments and analysis of Beat! Beat! Drums! by Walt Whitman Comments (11)

Beat! Beat! Drums! - Comments and Information
Poet: Walt Whitman Poem: 3. Beat! Beat! Drums! Volume: Leaves of Grass - 8. Drum-Taps Year: Published/Written in 1900 Poem of the Day: Jan 1 2005 Comment 11 of 11, added on May 6th, 2007 at 8:52 AM. In this poem Whitman is talking about the battle of Bull Run. He is describing how the people of the North have to mobilize because of the war and they will never be the same again because the war dominates every aspect of their lives. Esther from United States Comment 10 of 11, added on February 23rd, 2006 at 1:16 PM. I think the strange nature of great work can be an openness to interpretation. Surely this poem has a war theme, but that doesn't make the interpretation that the poem is urging people to wake up to life invalid. Whitman contains multitudes, he is his world, and while he can be the war, the war can also be his poetry, a ringing, messianic declamation. He sees the war, but is bigger than it. He can simultaneously rage against the war, without throwing in some political dig that would less the poem's ability to transcend the war, and beat the drum himself for the bigger war of the spirit. Dan from United States Comment 9 of 11, added on January 21st, 2006 at 12:52 PM. This a great poem. I would like to use it in my American Lit class but I need to find 5 literary devices. Can anyone help? Katie from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Beat! Beat! Drums!, has received 11 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Walt Whitman with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Walt Whitman Poem: 3. Beat! Beat! Drums! Volume: Leaves of Grass - 8. Drum-Taps Year: Published/Written in 1900 Last read: May 17 2008, 2:30PM Poem of the Day: Jan 1 2005 Viewed 10501 times. Added on January 21st, 2006 at 12:52 PM.

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