'Myself And Mine' by Walt Whitman


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MYSELF and mine gymnastic ever,
To stand the cold or heat--to take good aim with a gun--to sail a
boat--to manage horses--to beget superb children,
To speak readily and clearly--to feel at home among common people,
And to hold our own in terrible positions, on land and sea.

Not for an embroiderer;
(There will always be plenty of embroiderers--I welcome them also;)
But for the fibre of things, and for inherent men and women.

Not to chisel ornaments,
But to chisel with free stroke the heads and limbs of plenteous
Supreme Gods, that The States may realize them, walking and
talking.

Let me have my own way;10
Let others promulge the laws--I will make no account of the laws;
Let others praise eminent men and hold up peace--I hold up agitation
and conflict;
I praise no eminent man--I rebuke to his face the one that was
thought most worthy.

(Who are you? you mean devil! And what are you secretly guilty of,
all your life?
Will you turn aside all your life? Will you grub and chatter all your
life?)

(And who are you--blabbing by rote, years, pages, languages,
reminiscences,
Unwitting to-day that you do not know how to speak a single word?)

Let others finish specimens--I never finish specimens;
I shower them by exhaustless laws, as Nature does, fresh and modern
continually.

I give nothing as duties;20
What others give as duties, I give as living impulses;
(Shall I give the heart's action as a duty?)

Let others dispose of questions--I dispose of nothing--I arouse
unanswerable questions;
Who are they I see and touch, and what about them?
What about these likes of myself, that draw me so close by tender
directions and indirections?

I call to the world to distrust the accounts of my friends, but
listen to my enemies--as I myself do;
I charge you, too, forever, reject those who would expound me--for I
cannot expound myself;
I charge that there be no theory or school founded out of me;
I charge you to leave all free, as I have left all free.

After me, vista!30
O, I see life is not short, but immeasurably long;
I henceforth tread the world, chaste, temperate, an early riser, a
steady grower,
Every hour the semen of centuries--and still of centuries.

I will follow up these continual lessons of the air, water, earth;
I perceive I have no time to lose.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Walt Whitman's Poetry, Myself And Mine: A Poetic Journey of the Self

Walt Whitman's Poetry, Myself And Mine is a collection of poems that explores the themes of individualism, nature, and self-awareness. This collection includes some of Whitman's most famous poems, such as "Song of Myself" and "I Sing the Body Electric." Whitman's poetry is known for its free verse style and its celebration of the human experience. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will dive deep into the themes and literary devices used by Whitman in Poetry, Myself And Mine.

Whitman's Celebration of the Self

Whitman's Poetry, Myself And Mine is a celebration of the individual self. The collection begins with the poem "Song of Myself," which is a 52-part poem that explores Whitman's own identity and the identity of humanity as a whole. The poem begins with the line "I celebrate myself, and sing myself," which sets the tone for the rest of the collection. Whitman believes that the individual self is something to be celebrated and embraced, rather than suppressed or ignored.

Throughout the collection, Whitman uses a free verse style that allows him to explore the self without the constraints of traditional poetic forms. This style gives his poetry a sense of spontaneity and improvisation that matches his celebration of the self. In "Song of Myself," Whitman writes:

"I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul, The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me, The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into a new tongue."

This passage shows Whitman's belief that the self is made up of both pleasure and pain, and that both are necessary for personal growth and understanding.

Whitman's Connection to Nature

Whitman's Poetry, Myself And Mine is also deeply connected to the natural world. Throughout the collection, Whitman uses imagery from nature to explore the self and its connection to the universe. In "Song of Myself," he writes:

"I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass."

This passage shows Whitman's ability to find meaning in the simplest things in nature, like a blade of grass. He uses this imagery to connect the self to the larger universe, showing that the individual self is part of something much larger and more complex.

Whitman's connection to nature is also evident in his poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." In this poem, Whitman describes a lecture on astronomy that he attends, but finds himself disconnected from the scientific explanations:

"Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars."

This passage shows Whitman's belief that the true understanding of the universe comes not from scientific explanations, but from personal connection and experience.

Whitman's Use of Literary Devices

Whitman's Poetry, Myself And Mine is also notable for its use of literary devices. Whitman's free verse style allows him to experiment with language and structure in ways that traditional poetry does not. One of the most notable literary devices used by Whitman is repetition. In "Song of Myself," he repeats the phrase "I am" throughout the poem, emphasizing the importance of the individual self.

Whitman also uses extended metaphors in his poetry. In "I Sing the Body Electric," he compares the human body to the universe, showing the interconnectedness of all things:

"O my body! I dare not desert the likes of you in other men and women, nor the likes of the parts of you, I believe the likes of you are to stand or fall with the earth and sun and moon,"

This comparison shows Whitman's belief that the human body is not separate from nature, but an integral part of it.

Conclusion

Walt Whitman's Poetry, Myself And Mine is a collection of poems that celebrates the individual self and its connection to the natural world. Whitman's free verse style allows him to explore these themes in a way that traditional poetry cannot. His use of repetition and extended metaphors gives his poetry a sense of unity and coherence, despite its seemingly random structure. Whitman's Poetry, Myself And Mine is a poetic journey of the self that encourages readers to embrace their individuality and connect with the world around them.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Exploring the Depths of Walt Whitman's "Myself and Mine"

Walt Whitman, the father of free verse, is known for his unconventional style of poetry that celebrates the individual and the collective. His poem "Myself and Mine" is a perfect example of his unique style, as it explores the depths of the self and the connection between the self and the world. In this analysis, we will delve into the poem's themes, structure, and language to understand its significance and impact.

Themes

The poem "Myself and Mine" is a celebration of the self and the world. It is a reflection on the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of embracing one's individuality. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the self and its relationship to the world.

The first section of the poem is an ode to the self. Whitman writes, "I celebrate myself, and sing myself, / And what I assume you shall assume, / For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you." Here, Whitman is celebrating the uniqueness of the self and its connection to the world. He is saying that every atom in the universe is connected, and that the self is an integral part of that connection.

The second section of the poem is a reflection on the world. Whitman writes, "I have heard what the talkers were talking, / The talk of the beginning and the end, / But I do not talk of the beginning or the end." Here, Whitman is acknowledging the vastness of the world and the mysteries that it holds. He is saying that he does not concern himself with the beginning or the end, but rather with the present moment and the beauty that surrounds him.

The third section of the poem is a celebration of the connection between the self and the world. Whitman writes, "I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul, / The pleasures of heaven are with me and the pains of hell are with me, / The first I graft and increase upon myself, the latter I translate into a new tongue." Here, Whitman is saying that he is both the poet of the body and the soul, and that he experiences both pleasure and pain. He is saying that he takes the pain and transforms it into something beautiful, just as he takes the pleasures of heaven and incorporates them into his being.

Structure

The structure of "Myself and Mine" is unconventional, just like Whitman's style of poetry. The poem is divided into three sections, each of which is composed of several stanzas. The stanzas are not uniform in length or structure, and there is no rhyme scheme or meter. This lack of structure allows Whitman to explore his themes freely and to express himself in a way that is true to his individuality.

The first section of the poem is the longest, and it is composed of several stanzas that explore the self and its connection to the world. The second section is shorter, and it is composed of two stanzas that reflect on the world and its mysteries. The third section is the shortest, and it is composed of one stanza that celebrates the connection between the self and the world.

Language

The language of "Myself and Mine" is simple and direct, yet it is also rich and evocative. Whitman uses everyday language to express profound ideas and emotions. He uses repetition, imagery, and metaphor to create a sense of unity and interconnectedness.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of repetition. Whitman repeats the phrase "I celebrate myself" several times throughout the first section of the poem. This repetition creates a sense of unity and reinforces the idea that the self is an integral part of the world.

Whitman also uses imagery and metaphor to create a sense of interconnectedness. He compares himself to the grass, the air, and the stars, saying that he is "as good as" they are. This comparison creates a sense of unity between the self and the world, and it reinforces the idea that every atom in the universe is connected.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Myself and Mine" is a celebration of the self and the world. It is a reflection on the interconnectedness of all things and the importance of embracing one's individuality. The poem's unconventional structure and simple yet evocative language allow Whitman to explore his themes freely and to express himself in a way that is true to his individuality. "Myself and Mine" is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of the human experience and to connect us to the world around us.

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