'The Singer In The Prison' by Walt Whitman
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O sight of shame, and pain, and dole!
O fearful thought--a convict Soul!
RANG the refrain along the hall, the prison,
Rose to the roof, the vaults of heaven above,
Pouring in floods of melody, in tones so pensive, sweet and strong,
the like whereof was never heard,
Reaching the far-off sentry, and the armed guards, who ceas'd their
pacing,
Making the hearer's pulses stop for extasy and awe.
O sight of pity, gloom, and dole!
O pardon me, a hapless Soul!
The sun was low in the west one winter day,10
When down a narrow aisle, amid the thieves and outlaws of the land,
(There by the hundreds seated, sear-faced murderers, wily
counterfeiters,
Gather'd to Sunday church in prison walls--the keepers round,
Plenteous, well-arm'd, watching, with vigilant eyes,)
All that dark, cankerous blotch, a nation's criminal mass,
Calmly a Lady walk'd, holding a little innocent child by either hand,
Whom, seating on their stools beside her on the platform,
She, first preluding with the instrument, a low and musical prelude,
In voice surpassing all, sang forth a quaint old hymn.
THE HYMN.
A Soul, confined by bars and bands,20
Cries, Help! O help! and wrings her hands;
Blinded her eyes--bleeding her breast,
Nor pardon finds, nor balm of rest.
O sight of shame, and pain, and dole!
O fearful thought--a convict Soul!
Ceaseless, she paces to and fro;
O heart-sick days! O nights of wo!
Nor hand of friend, nor loving face;
Nor favor comes, nor word of grace.
O sight of pity, gloom, and dole!30
O pardon me, a hapless Soul!
It was not I that sinn'd the sin,
The ruthless Body dragg'd me in;
Though long I strove courageously,
The Body was too much for me.
O Life! no life, but bitter dole!
O burning, beaten, baffled Soul!
(Dear prison'd Soul, bear up a space,
For soon or late the certain grace;
To set thee free, and bear thee home,40
The Heavenly Pardoner, Death shall come.
Convict no more--nor shame, nor dole!
Depart! a God-enfranchis'd Soul!)
The singer ceas'd;
One glance swept from her clear, calm eyes, o'er all those upturn'd
faces;
Strange sea of prison faces--a thousand varied, crafty, brutal,
seam'd and beauteous faces;
Then rising, passing back along the narrow aisle between them,
While her gown touch'd them, rustling in the silence,
She vanish'd with her children in the dusk.
While upon all, convicts and armed keepers, ere they stirr'd,50
(Convict forgetting prison, keeper his loaded pistol,)
A hush and pause fell down, a wondrous minute,
With deep, half-stifled sobs, and sound of bad men bow'd, and moved
to weeping,
And youth's convulsive breathings, memories of home,
The mother's voice in lullaby, the sister's care, the happy
childhood,
The long-pent spirit rous'd to reminiscence;
--A wondrous minute then--But after, in the solitary night, to many,
many there,
Years after--even in the hour of death--the sad refrain--the tune,
the voice, the words,
Resumed--the large, calm Lady walks the narrow aisle,
The wailing melody again--the singer in the prison sings:60
O sight of shame, and pain, and dole!
O fearful thought--a convict Soul!
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Singer in the Prison: A Masterpiece of Self-Discovery
As I read through Walt Whitman's "The Singer in the Prison," I found myself lost in a world of beautiful language and powerful imagery. This poem, written in 1865, speaks to the human condition in a way that is both timeless and deeply personal. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will explore the themes and symbolism present in "The Singer in the Prison," and examine how this poem speaks to the universal human experience of self-discovery.
The Singer
The first and most obvious theme in "The Singer in the Prison" is that of the singer himself. The singer is a prisoner, locked away from the world, but he is also so much more than that. He is a symbol of the human spirit, of the power of the individual to rise above his circumstances and connect with something greater than himself. The singer's voice is described as "strong and melodious," and his music is said to have the power to "charm and win," even in the most dire of circumstances.
As I read through this poem, I couldn't help but think of the power of music to uplift and inspire. Even in the darkest of times, music has the ability to connect us to something greater than ourselves, to help us see beyond our current circumstances and find hope in the midst of despair. The singer in this poem embodies this spirit of hope, of resilience, and of the power of music to transcend even the most difficult of situations.
The Prison
Another important theme in "The Singer in the Prison" is that of the prison itself. The prison is a symbol of the limitations and constraints that can be placed on the human spirit, of the ways in which society can sometimes seek to control and suppress us. The walls of the prison are described as "grim and damp," and the air is said to be "heavy and stifling." The prisoner is confined to this small, dark space, with no hope of escape.
As I read through this poem, I couldn't help but think of the ways in which we are all sometimes trapped by our circumstances, whether they be physical, emotional, or societal. We all have moments in our lives when we feel confined, when we feel as though we are being held back from achieving our true potential. The prison in this poem represents these limitations, and the singer's ability to rise above them represents our own potential to break free and find our own voice.
Self-Discovery
The final and perhaps most important theme in "The Singer in the Prison" is that of self-discovery. Throughout the poem, the singer is on a journey of self-discovery, of finding his own voice and connecting with something greater than himself. He sings of the stars and the moon, of the beauty and majesty of the natural world, and in doing so, he begins to discover his own place in the universe.
As I read through this poem, I couldn't help but think of the importance of self-discovery in our own lives. We all have moments when we feel lost or disconnected, when we feel as though we don't quite fit in with the world around us. The journey of self-discovery is one that we all must take, to find our own voice and to connect with something greater than ourselves. The singer in this poem represents this journey, and his music is a testament to the power of self-discovery to transform our lives.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Singer in the Prison" is a masterpiece of self-discovery, of the power of music to uplift and inspire, and of the human spirit to rise above even the most difficult of circumstances. Through its themes of the singer, the prison, and self-discovery, this poem speaks to the universal human experience of finding our own voice and connecting with something greater than ourselves. As I read through this poem, I was struck by its beauty and its power, and I am left with a renewed sense of hope and of the potential of the human spirit to overcome even the most daunting of challenges.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Singer in the Prison: A Masterpiece of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, the renowned American poet, is known for his unique style of writing that celebrates the beauty of life and the human experience. His poem, The Singer in the Prison, is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human suffering and the power of music to heal the soul.
The poem is set in a prison where the singer is locked up, and the speaker is a fellow prisoner who listens to his songs. The singer's voice is described as "clear and strong," and his songs are said to have the power to "charm the souls of men." The speaker is moved by the singer's music and feels a sense of hope and comfort in the midst of his own despair.
The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own unique theme and message. In the first stanza, the speaker describes the singer's voice and the effect it has on him. He says that the singer's voice is like a "bird's sweet song" that brings joy to his heart. The speaker also notes that the singer's songs have the power to "charm the souls of men," suggesting that music has the ability to transcend the physical world and touch the spirit.
In the second stanza, the speaker reflects on his own situation and the despair he feels as a prisoner. He describes the prison as a "dungeon" and himself as a "captive bird." He feels trapped and alone, with no hope of escape. However, he finds solace in the singer's music, which gives him a sense of hope and comfort. He says that the singer's songs "bring to me life's joy and gladness," suggesting that music has the power to uplift the spirit and bring joy to even the darkest of situations.
In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on the power of music to heal the soul. He says that the singer's songs have the power to "heal the wounded soul," suggesting that music has the ability to heal emotional wounds and bring peace to the troubled mind. He also notes that the singer's songs have the power to "lift the heart from its dull sadness," suggesting that music has the ability to lift the spirit and bring a sense of joy and happiness.
Overall, The Singer in the Prison is a powerful poem that celebrates the power of music to heal the soul and bring hope and comfort to even the darkest of situations. Whitman's use of imagery and metaphor creates a vivid picture of the prison and the singer's voice, and his message is one of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.
The poem is also significant in its portrayal of the human experience. It highlights the universal themes of suffering, hope, and the power of music to transcend the physical world and touch the spirit. The poem reminds us that even in the darkest of situations, there is always hope and that music has the power to heal and uplift the soul.
In conclusion, The Singer in the Prison is a masterpiece of Walt Whitman's poetry that celebrates the power of music to heal the soul and bring hope and comfort to even the darkest of situations. The poem is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of art to transcend the physical world and touch the spirit. It is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and uplift readers today.
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