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walt whitman

We've made it to the mid 1800s in my American literature class this semester, which brings us to one of my favorite poets, Walt Whitman. When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer is probably my favorite poem of all time.

Given the presidential election of few weeks ago, my thoughts have turned to the political. When I teach ninth grade, I teach I Hear America Singing in conjunction with Langston Hughes' I, Too, Sing America and Angela de Hoyos' To Walt Whitman. I taught most all of the juniors I have now as freshman, so I was sad not to be able to teach that lesson and discuss the fulfillment of Hughes' poem. Instead, I decided to break them into groups and give each group a series of poems with a different theme and they would have to figure out what Whitman thought about the theme and discuss the poems. (It was a bit adventuresome...) It did however, give me the opportunity to read so much wonderful poetry. Whitman had such a beautiful vision of America, the common man, and democracy.

Souvenirs of Democracy

THE business man, the acquirer vast,
After assiduous years, surveying results, preparing for departure,
Devises houses and lands to his children—bequeaths stocks, goods—funds for a school or hospital,
Leaves money to certain companions to buy tokens, souvenirs of gems and gold;
Parceling out with care—And then, to prevent all cavil,	5
His name to his testament formally signs.
But I, my life surveying,
With nothing to show, to devise, from its idle years,
Nor houses, nor lands—nor tokens of gems or gold for my friends,
Only these Souvenirs of Democracy—In them—in all my songs—behind me leaving,	10
To You, who ever you are, (bathing, leavening this leaf especially with my breath—pressing on it a moment with my own hands;
—Here! feel how the pulse beats in my wrists!—how my heart’s-blood is swelling, contracting!)
I will You, in all, Myself, with promise to never desert you,
To which I sign my name.

posted by CP @ 4:28 PM 0 thoughts