'Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me?' by Walt Whitman


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ARE you the new person drawn toward me?
To begin with, take warning--I am surely far different from what you
suppose;
Do you suppose you will find in me your ideal?
Do you think it so easy to have me become your lover?
Do you think the friendship of me would be unalloy'd satisfaction?
Do you think I am trusty and faithful?
Do you see no further than this façade--this smooth and tolerant
manner of me?
Do you suppose yourself advancing on real ground toward a real heroic
man?
Have you no thought, O dreamer, that it may be all maya, illusion?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me? by Walt Whitman: A Deep Dive

Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me? is a beautiful poem written by Walt Whitman, one of the most influential poets of the 19th century. The poem, originally published in Leaves of Grass, explores the themes of love, attraction, and the beauty of human connections. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deep into the poem's structure, language, and meaning to uncover its hidden gems and understand why it continues to resonate with readers even today.

Structure and Form

At first glance, the poem seems to have a simple structure with no clear rhyme scheme or meter. However, upon closer inspection, one can see that the poem is divided into two stanzas of unequal length. The first stanza consists of 12 lines, while the second stanza has only six lines. The first stanza is written in free verse, with no clear pattern of rhythm or rhyme. In contrast, the second stanza has a more structured and rhythmic structure, with a clear ABABCC rhyme scheme.

The poem's structure reflects the speaker's emotions and the progression of their thoughts. The first stanza is filled with uncertainty and longing, as the speaker addresses the new person who is drawn towards them. The second stanza, with its more structured form and rhyme scheme, reflects the speaker's growing confidence and certainty in their attraction to the new person.

Language and Imagery

Whitman's use of language and imagery in the poem is powerful and evocative. The poem starts with the line, "Are you the new person drawn toward me?", which immediately captures the reader's attention and draws them into the speaker's world. The use of the word "new" conveys a sense of excitement and possibility, while the phrase "drawn toward me" hints at a powerful attraction between the two people.

Throughout the poem, Whitman uses vivid and sensory imagery to create a vivid picture of the speaker's emotions. For example, he writes, "Are you the coming person? / The words of the true songs?" This line not only evokes the image of a beautiful melody but also suggests that the speaker sees the new person as someone who embodies truth and authenticity.

Another powerful image in the poem is the line, "The flush of the known universe in my face." This image suggests that the speaker is overwhelmed by their feelings for the new person and that their attraction is not just physical but also emotional and spiritual.

Themes and Interpretation

At its core, Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me? is a poem about love, attraction, and the beauty of human connections. The poem explores the idea that love can be transformative and that it can bring people together in powerful ways.

One of the most interesting aspects of the poem is the way it blurs the lines between physical and emotional attraction. Throughout the poem, the speaker's attraction to the new person is described in both physical and emotional terms. For example, the speaker writes, "Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord, / A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropt, / Bearing the owner's name someway in the corners, that we may see and remark, and say Whose?" Here, the speaker suggests that the new person is like a gift from God, and their attraction to them is both physical (the scent of the handkerchief) and emotional (the desire to know the owner's name).

The poem also explores the idea that love can be transformative and that it can bring people together in powerful ways. The lines, "I am he that aches with amorous love; / Does the earth gravitate? Does not all matter, aching, attract all matter?" suggest that love is a force that transcends physical boundaries and connects us all on a deeper level.

However, the poem also acknowledges the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with love. The line, "I do not know what you are for, / (I do not know what I am for myself, nor what any thing is for,) / But I will search carefully for it even in being foil'd," suggests that the speaker is uncertain about their own purpose and the purpose of their attraction to the new person. However, they are willing to search for meaning and connection even if they are ultimately unsuccessful.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me? is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the themes of love, attraction, and the beauty of human connections. Through its vivid language and imagery, the poem captures the speaker's emotions and feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability. However, it also suggests that love is a force that transcends physical boundaries and connects us all on a deeper level. Despite being written over a century ago, the poem continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the transformative power of love and the beauty of human connections.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me? A Classic Poem by Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman, one of the most celebrated poets of the 19th century, is known for his unique style of writing that captures the essence of human emotions and experiences. His poem, "Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me?" is a classic example of his style and has been widely studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike.

The poem, which was first published in 1860 in the third edition of Leaves of Grass, is a conversation between two strangers who meet on a street. The speaker, who is the narrator of the poem, addresses the stranger and asks if they are the new person who has been drawn towards him. The stranger responds with a simple "yes," and the speaker goes on to describe the various emotions and sensations that he feels in the presence of this new person.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's experience. In the first stanza, the speaker describes the physical sensations that he feels in the presence of the new person. He says that he feels a "magnetic something" that draws him towards the stranger and makes him feel as though he is "swimming in space." This description of the physical sensations is a testament to Whitman's ability to capture the essence of human experience in his writing.

In the second stanza, the speaker delves deeper into his emotional experience. He says that he feels a sense of joy and excitement in the presence of the new person, and that he is filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity about who this person is and what they represent. He describes the new person as a "miracle" and says that he feels as though he is "touching the stars" when he is with them.

The third and final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. Here, the speaker reflects on the nature of human connection and the importance of being open to new experiences and new people. He says that he feels a sense of unity with the new person, and that he is grateful for the opportunity to connect with them. He ends the poem with the powerful line, "For the one I see today, the one I loved, and still love, as the old moon drops in the new moon's arms."

The poem is a celebration of human connection and the power of new experiences to transform our lives. It is a reminder that we should always be open to new people and new opportunities, and that we should never take the connections we have for granted. Whitman's writing is both beautiful and profound, and his ability to capture the essence of human experience in his poetry is truly remarkable.

In conclusion, "Are You The New Person, Drawn Toward Me?" is a classic poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Its message of openness and connection is as relevant now as it was when it was first published over 150 years ago. Whitman's writing is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of human experience and to inspire us to live our lives with greater depth and meaning.

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