FORMS, qualities, lives, humanity, language, thoughts,
The ones known, and the ones unknown—the ones on the stars,
The stars themselves, some shaped, others unshaped,
Wonders as of those countries—the soil, trees, cities, inhabitants, whatever they may
be,
Splendid suns, the moons and rings, the countless combinations and effects;
Such-like, and as good as such-like, visible here or anywhere, stand provided for in a
handful
of space, which I extend my arm and half enclose with my hand;
That contains the start of each and all—the virtue, the germs of all.

Analysis, meaning and summary of Walt Whitman's poem Germs.

9 Comments

  1. G Rock says:

    This wa about germs. i liked it =)

  2. Michael Kwamena-Poh says:

    I believe Walt Whitman is talking about the ‘substance’ of (all) things, the basic element or that from which all is made.

  3. Aemoh-San says:

    So…The Human race is like germs? Pesky little creautes that cause more harm than good? Wow, nice to see someone who thinks the same, even if he is kind of dead and rotting.

  4. Rebecea N Peaks says:

    I believe he was speaking of the years ahead after he is gone, and the human race.

  5. Megan says:

    I have no idea what walt whitman was thinking when he wrote this poem, but it all flows together and has a certain rythym to it. I like the way he describes all of the events in the poem, but I still have no idea what he is talking about!!!!!!!!!

  6. mike says:

    I don’t get what this dude is saying

  7. Jessica says:

    This is one of my favorite poems.

  8. asleepingbuddha says:

    I think he is saying you can keep your dualistic veiw of reality.

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