When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer. - A poem by Walt Whitman


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Walt Whitman - When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer.

WHEN I heard the learn’d astronomer; 
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; 
When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; 
When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the
	lecture-room, 
How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick;
Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, 
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, 
Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

Added: on June 2nd, 2007 at 8:37 PM | Viewed: 22076 times | Comments and analysis of When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer. by Walt Whitman Comments (28)

When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer. - Comments and Information
Poet: Walt Whitman (Walt Whitman Art) Poem: 5. When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer. Volume: Leaves of Grass - 15. Songs of Parting Year: Published/Written in 1900 Comment 28 of 28, added on December 7th, 2009 at 4:05 PM. analyzing all aspects I completely agree that the knowledge you can gain from an intellectual can make you forget to learn from a sensual aspect and admire the beauty but I do also believe that one such as Whitman can get too caught up in the holistic experience and forget to return to the other aspect. How can you expect to call yourself more knowledgable than the proffesor if all you do is daydream and look at the stars. Life requires a balance in all aspects. Whitman was very charismatic and good in the english language but how can one say that they are more intelligent than the astronomer just because they admire the stars. We might not see the astronomer during his time of meditation. Christopher29 from United States Comment 27 of 28, added on October 23rd, 2007 at 1:00 PM. I really enjoyed this poem. It really made me think!! Lola from Belize Comment 26 of 28, added on June 2nd, 2007 at 8:37 PM. It is said that science murders of the beautyof art. By science discovery, fantastic fairies are broke. But does science bring material wealthy? yeats from China More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer., has received 28 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: 5. When I heard the Learn’d Astronomer. Volume: Leaves of Grass - 15. Songs of Parting Year: Published/Written in 1900 Last read: Mar 21 2010, 11:21PM Viewed 22076 times. Added on June 2nd, 2007 at 8:37 PM.

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