A Sight In Camp Analysis

A SIGHT in camp in the day-break grey and dim,
As from my tent I emerge so early, sleepless,
As slow I walk in the cool fresh air, the path near by the hospital
tent,
Three forms I see on stretchers lying, brought out there, untended
lying,
Over each the blanket spread, ample brownish woollen blanket,
Grey and heavy blanket, folding, covering all.

Curious, I halt, and silent stand;
Then with light fingers I from the face of the nearest, the first,
just lift the blanket:
Who are you, elderly man so gaunt and grim, with well-grey'd hair,
and flesh all sunken about the eyes?
Who are you, my dear comrade?10

Then to the second I step--And who are you, my child and darling?
Who are you, sweet boy, with cheeks yet blooming?

Then to the third--a face nor child, nor old, very calm, as of
beautiful yellow-white ivory;
Young man, I think I know you--I think this face of yours is the face
of the Christ himself;
Dead and divine, and brother of all, and here again he lies.

.: :.

This is telling a story of when the speaker (in war) awakes and passes by a hospital. Out of curiosity, he lifts the blankets covering three dead men. The diversity in age allows the reader to relate to every one, as everyone has emotional connections to the old man who should never had fought in the war, the boy who never got to live his full life, and the young man who represents Jesus Christ. This shows the fraternity among America, in which all the men who died are acknowledged and basically thanked because of their sacrifices to America. The allusion to Christ is especially important as to emphasize the sacrifices soldiers commonly give in war, and it is more accessible to readers at that time, as many were highly religious, especially Catholics.

| Posted on 2009-11-08 | by a guest

.: A BROTHER OF ALL :.

it takes his thoughts from sorrow (gray and grim) to the justification of Jesus' presence. It begins to almost form a pattern, going from the old man to the yonger man; asking "who are you?". Then the entire feel of the poem changes after he reaches the "ageless" man, whom he says "i think i know you" he defines his face as the face of Christ himeslf. With the "presence" of Christ, he says brother of all. As Jesus sacrificed himself to humanity, so did the soldiers, both confederate and yankee. This man whom Whitman sees as Christ is a represenitive for all who have sacrificed themselves for thw war.

| Posted on 2004-09-28 | by Approved Guest