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Comment 12 of 12, added on September 4th, 2007 at 4:10 PM.
This is quite an extraordinary poem for Whitman himself and within the
larger American canon of poetry. If you really are interested in it read
the essay on it contained in Helen Vendler's book "The Music of What
Happens". I usually find Whitman irrepressably voluable, boisterous,
overblown, pollyanish (if that's a word) and self promoting. Almost none
of that appears in this quite remarkable work of genuine (but non
Christian) grief. There's even considerable variation (mostly in the carol
of the bird) from Whitman's usual biblical (or perhaps more accurately
Psalmic) listing syntax. I'm generally not a big Whitman fan, but this is
a fine and truly moving effort by (whatever else he was or is seen to be)
an American original.
G. D. Geiss from United States
Comment 11 of 12, added on January 15th, 2006 at 1:09 PM.
ive been researching alot on whitman and this poem for my jr 320 english
class...for you ppl that have commented on whitman's sexual
orientation...yes he was homosexual but that does not mean he felt a lovers
attraction to Lincoln, i believe that it was more of an admiration for a
great man. Secondly id like to comment on how amazing a poet Walt Whitman
is. He took a traditional elegy and turned it into his own way to mourn for
a person that he greatly admired. Whitman did this alot with his work, he
didnt always follow the rules but that makes him the best. He
revolutionized how people write poetry now.....he was a true american poet.
Amy from United States
Comment 10 of 12, added on November 7th, 2005 at 9:56 PM.
I'm just a high-school kid, not a veteran when it comes to interpreting
poetry. ^^; So I wonder if I'd be wrong to think that Whitman is portraying
death as something almost benevolent, something that ends suffering and
puts one in unity with the whole of nature (an impression I got while
reading (section?) 16, the bird's song). He certainly makes many references
to death that hold positive connotations, e.g. 'deliveress'. Then again
this might just be a way of showing how he is turning to the solace of
nature to cope with his pain, like part of what Caitlin said. Hm. Any
ideas?
kpi from United States
Comment 9 of 12, added on May 14th, 2005 at 8:21 PM.
to April Stockley, back then people used the term "gay" as meaning happy.
So him saying "of him i love" is just him saying that he looked up to and
admired this man. It doesn't mean he was gay.
Georgia
Comment 8 of 12, added on April 1st, 2005 at 3:41 PM.
Firstly, did you mean you are "illegitimate?" If you are illiterate, you
are not able to read NOR write. Yet, you say you "read" the first few
lines of this poem and that you "write" poetry. How about we say you are
an "idiot" and leave it at that. Leave the poetic critiques of someone as
successful (though not in his day and age) and genius to those of us who
are LITERATE. "Don't bother" with yourself.
Apstockley
April Stockley from United States
Comment 7 of 12, added on February 1st, 2005 at 9:27 PM.
this poem makes walt gay Like "And thought of him I love" it really makes
him sound gay dosent it
Why from United States
Comment 6 of 12, added on January 31st, 2005 at 4:32 PM.
As disinclined as I am to leave a comment on a website where one comentator
refuses to recognize any of Whitman's abilities and another seems to have
developed terrets syndrome while comenting, I feel compelled to speak on
behalf of whitman, and give my interpretation of the poem in case someone
is looking for a valid one. In this poem, WHitman is indeed mourning the
death of Abraham Lincoln. Hoever, Whitman is also commenting on the impact
death has on the living, and even is speaking about the creative process
and how inspiration was able to lift him from his grief so that he would be
able to write. The Western star (or orb as referred to in the one stanza)
is representative of linclon. The Lilacs are representative of WHitman's
grief. The Brown Bird is something that Whitman feels compatible to. There
are other several important devic`es in the poem that are easily found once
these are understood.
Caitlin from United States
Comment 5 of 12, added on January 30th, 2005 at 11:16 PM.
this was the
BEST poem i have ever read it was amaizing i am a poem collector because
of this poem i bought his rough draft copy the first ever made this is the
best fucking book i have ever read in my fucking life it is so0o0o fucking
amaizing if u ever need to borrow it tell me it cost me 2.3 million dollars
to buy but it was worth every cent i love this poem
karina from United States
Comment 4 of 12, added on January 30th, 2005 at 11:56 AM.
I read that this poem is about the assassination of Lincoln and how Whitman
mourned.
Cinja from United States
Comment 3 of 12, added on January 9th, 2005 at 8:38 AM.
The light from the words land gently on the soul...
Mary Jarzynka
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
[1] 2
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This is quite an extraordinary poem for Whitman himself and within the
larger American canon of poetry. If you really are interested in it read
the essay on it contained in Helen Vendler's book "The Music of What
Happens". I usually find Whitman irrepressably voluable, boisterous,
overblown, pollyanish (if that's a word) and self promoting. Almost none
of that appears in this quite remarkable work of genuine (but non
Christian) grief. There's even considerable variation (mostly in the carol
of the bird) from Whitman's usual biblical (or perhaps more accurately
Psalmic) listing syntax. I'm generally not a big Whitman fan, but this is
a fine and truly moving effort by (whatever else he was or is seen to be)
an American original.
G. D. Geiss from United States