BEGINNING my studies, the first step pleas’d me so much,
The mere fact, consciousness—these forms—the power of motion,
The least insect or animal—the senses—eyesight—love;
The first step, I say, aw’d me and pleas’d me so much,
I have hardly gone, and hardly wish’d to go, any farther,
But stop and loiter all the time, to sing it in extatic songs.
Beginning my Studies.
Analysis, meaning and summary of Walt Whitman's poem Beginning my Studies.
5 Comments
Leave a Reply
Do you have any comments, criticism, paraphrasis or analysis of this poem that you feel would assist other visitors in understanding the meaning or the theme of this poem by Walt Whitman better? If accepted, your analysis will be added to this page of American Poems. Together we can build a wealth of information, but it will take some discipline and determination.
I believe this is Whitman explaining that moment in life when everything is new…maybe very young adolescence – when we are all students of the world. When everything amazes us…awes us. When I’m observing my 3 year old niece and how easily (yet very happily) amazed and awe she gets when learning something new, I am reminded of this poem. It’s that time when happiness is staring at an ant on a flower and wondering what its doing.
Whitman is obviously estatic about an eye-opening event, a time in his life, (probably) when he discovered the beautyand majesty in and of LIFE
I loved this poem! It expresses the love he had for his studies because I believe he realized studying moves you forward and makes you knowledgeable and encourages you to love studying and not be forced to do it!
very inspirational from a writer’s point of view.
very very good poem