'I Was Looking A Long While' by Walt Whitman


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I WAS looking a long while for a clue to the history of the past for
myself, and for these chants--and now I have found it;
It is not in those paged fables in the libraries, (them I neither
accept nor reject;)
It is no more in the legends than in all else;
It is in the present--it is this earth to-day;
It is in Democracy--(the purport and aim of all the past;)
It is the life of one man or one woman to-day--the average man of
to-day;
It is in languages, social customs, literatures, arts;
It is in the broad show of artificial things, ships, machinery,
politics, creeds, modern improvements, and the interchange of
nations,
All for the average man of to-day.

Editor 1 Interpretation

I Was Looking A Long While by Walt Whitman

When it comes to American poetry, it is difficult to ignore the influence of Walt Whitman. One of his most famous poems, I Was Looking A Long While, is a perfect example of his ability to portray the beauty of the human experience in a simple yet profound way.

The Poem

I was looking a long while for a clue to the history of the past for myself, and for these chants—and now I have found it,
It is not in those paged fables in the libraries, (them I neither accept nor reject,)
It is no more in the legends than in all else,
It is in the present—it is this earth to-day,
It is in Democracy—(the purport and aim of all the past,)
It is the life of one man or one woman to-day—the average man of to-day,
It is in languages, social customs, literatures, arts,
It is in the broad show of artificial things, ships, machinery, politics, creeds,
It is in architecture, books, paintings, the banks, stocks, bonds,
It is in the piled-up shelves of the libraries and the work-shops,
And here, after all, it is not thinking which makes it;
It is not intellect that makes it—it is not even an individual soul,
It is the average soul—it is the collective,
And the average soul is no more than the average man,
And the average man is but a little above the man below—and what is a man anyhow?

Interpretation

I Was Looking A Long While is a poem that explores the search for meaning in life. Walt Whitman was searching for a clue to the history of the past, for understanding of himself and for the chants that he had heard. In this search, he realized that the answer was not to be found in the traditional sources of knowledge like libraries, legends or fables. Instead, he found the answer in the present moment.

Whitman believed that the history of the past was not just a collection of stories and legends, but it was in fact present in the very fabric of our society. He found it in the way we speak, the way we live, the way we interact with each other. It was in the art we create, the buildings we construct, the literature we write. It was in everything that we do.

Whitman also believed in the power of democracy. To him, it was the purport and aim of all the past. The collective power of the people working together towards a common goal was what made human society great. It was not the intellect of one individual but the collective wisdom of the people that made society what it was.

The poem also explores the concept of the average man. Whitman believed that the average man was the key to understanding human society. The average soul was no more than the average man, and the average man was just a little above the man below. This is a profound observation about the nature of humanity. We are all equal, and the differences between us are not as significant as we might think.

Whitman concludes the poem by asking the rhetorical question, "And what is a man anyhow?" This question highlights the fact that we are all searching for meaning in our lives, but the answer to that question is not something that can be easily defined. We are all unique individuals, but at the same time, we are all part of a larger collective. The answer to the question lies in the way we live our lives, the relationships we form, the art we create, and the impact we have on the world around us.

Literary Criticism

I Was Looking A Long While is a poem that is both simple and complex at the same time. On the surface, it is a straightforward exploration of the search for meaning in life, but at a deeper level, it is a profound meditation on the nature of humanity.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of repetition. The phrase "it is" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the idea that the answer to the search for meaning is present in everything around us. The repetition also gives the poem a sense of rhythm and musicality, making it a pleasure to read out loud.

The poem is also notable for its use of free verse. Whitman was a pioneer of free verse, and this poem is a perfect example of his ability to create poetry without the constraints of traditional verse forms. The lack of rhyme and meter gives the poem a sense of freedom and spontaneity, reflecting the message of the poem itself.

Another interesting aspect of the poem is its use of imagery. Whitman paints a vivid picture of the world around us, from the "broad show of artificial things" to the "piled-up shelves of the libraries." This imagery helps to convey the idea that the answer to the search for meaning is present in everything around us.

Finally, the poem is notable for its message of equality. Whitman believed that the average man was the key to understanding humanity, and that we are all equal in the eyes of the universe. This message of equality is as relevant today as it was when Whitman wrote the poem, and it is a testament to the enduring power of his poetry.

Conclusion

I Was Looking A Long While by Walt Whitman is a poem that is both simple and profound. It explores the search for meaning in life, and the idea that the answer to that search is present in everything around us. The poem is notable for its use of repetition, free verse, and imagery, as well as its message of equality. It is a testament to the enduring power of Whitman's poetry, and a reminder that the search for meaning is a universal human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

I Was Looking A Long While: A Masterpiece of Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman, the father of free verse, is one of the most celebrated poets in American literature. His works are known for their unconventional style, free-flowing structure, and profound themes. Among his many poems, "I Was Looking A Long While" stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of human longing and the search for meaning in life. In this essay, we will explore the poem's structure, language, and themes to understand its significance and relevance to contemporary readers.

Structure

"I Was Looking A Long While" is a free verse poem that consists of ten stanzas, each with four lines. The poem's structure is simple, yet effective, as it allows the reader to focus on the poem's content without being distracted by a complex form. The poem's rhythm is also noteworthy, as it has a musical quality that enhances the poem's emotional impact. The poem's opening line, "I was looking a long while for a clue to the history of the past for myself," sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it establishes the speaker's quest for self-discovery.

Language

Whitman's use of language in "I Was Looking A Long While" is both poetic and accessible. He employs simple words and phrases that are easy to understand, yet he also uses metaphors and imagery that add depth and complexity to the poem. For example, in the second stanza, he writes, "All I mark as my own you shall offset it with your own,/Else it were time lost listening to me." Here, Whitman is suggesting that the reader should not take his words as gospel but should instead find their own truth. This idea is reinforced in the fourth stanza, where he writes, "I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person." Here, Whitman is emphasizing the importance of empathy and the need to experience life fully to understand it.

Themes

The themes of "I Was Looking A Long While" are universal and timeless. The poem explores the human desire for meaning and purpose, the search for self-discovery, and the importance of empathy and connection. The poem's opening line, "I was looking a long while for a clue to the history of the past for myself," speaks to the human need to understand our place in the world and our connection to the past. The poem's second stanza, where Whitman writes, "All I mark as my own you shall offset it with your own," emphasizes the importance of individuality and the need to find our own truth.

The poem's fourth stanza, where Whitman writes, "I do not ask the wounded person how he feels, I myself become the wounded person," speaks to the importance of empathy and the need to connect with others. The poem's final stanza, where Whitman writes, "I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,/If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles," suggests that we are all connected to the earth and that our legacy is not in what we accumulate but in how we connect with others and the world around us.

Relevance

"I Was Looking A Long While" is a poem that is as relevant today as it was when it was first published in 1860. In a world that is increasingly disconnected and fragmented, the poem speaks to the importance of empathy, connection, and individuality. The poem's message that we should find our own truth and not rely on others to tell us what to believe is particularly relevant in an age of fake news and misinformation. The poem's emphasis on the importance of empathy and connection is also relevant in a world where social media often replaces real human interaction.

Conclusion

"I Was Looking A Long While" is a masterpiece of American poetry that captures the essence of human longing and the search for meaning in life. Whitman's use of language and structure is both poetic and accessible, and his themes of self-discovery, empathy, and connection are universal and timeless. The poem's relevance to contemporary readers is a testament to its enduring power and its ability to speak to the human experience across time and space.

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