'Chanting The Square Deific' by Walt Whitman
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
CHANTING the square deific, out of the One advancing, out of the
sides;
Out of the old and new--out of the square entirely divine,
Solid, four-sided, (all the sides needed)... from this side JEHOVAH
am I,
Old Brahm I, and I Saturnius am;
Not Time affects me--I am Time, old, modern as any;
Unpersuadable, relentless, executing righteous judgments;
As the Earth, the Father, the brown old Kronos, with laws,
Aged beyond computation--yet ever new--ever with those mighty laws
rolling,
Relentless, I forgive no man--whoever sins, dies--I will have that
man's life;
Therefore let none expect mercy--Have the seasons, gravitation, the
appointed days, mercy?--No more have I;10
But as the seasons, and gravitation--and as all the appointed days,
that forgive not,
I dispense from this side judgments inexorable, without the least
remorse.
Consolator most mild, the promis'd one advancing,
With gentle hand extended--the mightier God am I,
Foretold by prophets and poets, in their most rapt prophecies and
poems;
From this side, lo! the Lord CHRIST gazes--lo! Hermes I--lo! mine is
Hercules' face;
All sorrow, labor, suffering, I, tallying it, absorb in myself;
Many times have I been rejected, taunted, put in prison, and
crucified--and many times shall be again;
All the world have I given up for my dear brothers' and sisters'
sake--for the soul's sake;
Wending my way through the homes of men, rich or poor, with the kiss
of affection;20
For I am affection--I am the cheer-bringing God, with hope, and all-
enclosing Charity;
(Conqueror yet--for before me all the armies and soldiers of the
earth shall yet bow--and all the weapons of war become
impotent:)
With indulgent words, as to children--with fresh and sane words, mine
only;
Young and strong I pass, knowing well I am destin'd myself to an
early death:
But my Charity has no death--my Wisdom dies not, neither early nor
late,
And my sweet Love, bequeath'd here and elsewhere, never dies.
Aloof, dissatisfied, plotting revolt,
Comrade of criminals, brother of slaves,
Crafty, despised, a drudge, ignorant,
With sudra face and worn brow, black, but in the depths of my heart,
proud as any;30
Lifted, now and always, against whoever, scorning, assumes to rule
me;
Morose, full of guile, full of reminiscences, brooding, with many
wiles,
(Though it was thought I was baffled and dispell'd, and my wiles
done--but that will never be;)
Defiant, I, SATAN, still live--still utter words--in new lands duly
appearing, (and old ones also;)
Permanent here, from my side, warlike, equal with any, real as any,
Nor time, nor change, shall ever change me or my words.
Santa SPIRITA, breather, life,
Beyond the light, lighter than light,
Beyond the flames of hell--joyous, leaping easily above hell;
Beyond Paradise--perfumed solely with mine own perfume;40
Including all life on earth--touching, including God--including
Saviour and Satan;
Ethereal, pervading all, (for without me, what were all? what were
God?)
Essence of forms--life of the real identities, permanent, positive,
(namely the unseen,)
Life of the great round world, the sun and stars, and of man--I, the
general Soul,
Here the square finishing, the solid, I the most solid,
Breathe my breath also through these songs.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Square Deific: A Critique and Interpretation
Walt Whitman's poem "Chanting The Square Deific" is a masterpiece of American poetry. With its unique style, structure, and subject matter, this poem stands out as one of the most compelling works of Whitman's oeuvre. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine the poem's themes, motifs, and techniques to reveal the deeper meanings and implications of Whitman's poetic vision.
Background and Context
First published in 1867 as part of the fourth edition of Leaves of Grass, "Chanting The Square Deific" is a long poem that consists of 24 stanzas of varying lengths. The poem's title refers to the Greek concept of "theos" or God, and the square represents the material world or the physical realm. Thus, the square deific is a symbol of the divine immanent in the material world, which is one of the central themes of the poem.
Whitman wrote the poem during a period of great social and political upheaval in America. The country was still recovering from the Civil War, and the Reconstruction era was marked by intense racial and economic tensions. Whitman, who was known for his progressive views on democracy, equality, and individualism, saw himself as a poet of the people, and his poetry reflected his vision of a new, inclusive, and expansive America.
Structure and Style
"Chanting The Square Deific" is written in Whitman's signature free verse style, which eschews traditional forms of rhyme and meter in favor of a more fluid and organic structure. The poem is divided into stanzas of varying lengths, with each stanza containing a series of loosely connected images, ideas, and voices. The poem's lack of punctuation and capitalization, as well as its use of repetition, parallelism, and lists, creates a sense of rhythm and momentum that propels the poem forward.
The poem's style is also marked by its use of apostrophe, which is a figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent or imaginary person or entity. Whitman addresses the square deific directly, as if it were a living, breathing entity, and he uses apostrophe to convey his awe, wonder, and reverence for the divine in nature and in humanity.
Themes and Motifs
At its core, "Chanting The Square Deific" is a poem about the intersection of the divine and the human, the spiritual and the material, the individual and the collective. The poem's main theme is the idea that the divine is not separate from the world, but rather immanent in it. Whitman celebrates the divine in all its forms, whether it is the "great sun" that "balanc'd heaven" or the "clod common and bruis'd" that "feels its significance." He sees the divine in every living thing, from the "bees that chant" to the "human face divine."
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of unity in diversity. Whitman champions the idea that all things are interconnected and that the diversity of life is not a source of division but a cause for celebration. He writes, "I see the continuum of the generations, / I see the myths of the north and south, / I see the sailor sailing through the sea on his way to every port."
The poem also touches on themes of mortality, transcendence, and transformation. Whitman sees death not as an end but as a transition, a journey from one form of existence to another. He writes, "All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses, / And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier." He also sees transcendence not as something that happens after death but as something that can be experienced in the present moment. He writes, "I will be even with you and you shall be even with me, / If you are not indifferent to me I will be indifferent to you."
Techniques and Devices
Whitman employs a wide range of poetic techniques and devices in "Chanting The Square Deific" to convey his themes and motifs. One of the most prominent techniques is repetition, particularly the repetition of key words and phrases such as "chant," "square deific," and "I see." Through repetition, Whitman creates a sense of unity and harmony that mirrors his vision of the world.
Parallelism is another technique that Whitman uses to great effect in the poem. He often pairs contrasting ideas or images, such as the "great sun" and the "clod common and bruis'd," to create a sense of balance and harmony. He also uses lists to create a sense of abundance and variety, such as when he lists "the dew, the rain, the mists, the snows" as examples of the divine in nature.
Another key device that Whitman employs is apostrophe, which allows him to address the square deific directly and to express his awe and wonder at the divine in all its forms. Through apostrophe, Whitman creates a sense of intimacy and connection with the divine, which is a central theme of the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Chanting The Square Deific" is a powerful and visionary poem that celebrates the intersection of the divine and the human, the spiritual and the material, the individual and the collective. Through its unique style, structure, and subject matter, the poem conveys Whitman's progressive and inclusive vision of America, as well as his belief in the universal and eternal nature of the divine. By examining the poem's themes, motifs, and techniques, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the complexity and richness of Whitman's poetic vision, and for the enduring impact of his work on American literature and culture.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Square Deific: A Masterpiece of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, the father of free verse poetry, is known for his unconventional style of writing that challenged the traditional norms of poetry. His poem, The Square Deific, is a perfect example of his unique style and his ability to capture the essence of life in his words. The Square Deific is a poem that explores the concept of divinity and the relationship between God and man. In this article, we will take a closer look at this masterpiece of Walt Whitman and analyze its themes, structure, and language.
Themes
The Square Deific is a poem that explores the concept of divinity and the relationship between God and man. Whitman uses the metaphor of a square to represent the idea of God. The square is a symbol of perfection, stability, and balance. It is a shape that is both simple and complex, and it represents the idea of order and structure. Whitman uses this metaphor to suggest that God is the foundation of all things and that everything in the universe is connected to Him.
The poem also explores the idea of the human soul and its relationship with God. Whitman suggests that the human soul is a part of God and that it is connected to Him in a profound way. He writes, "The soul is always beautiful, / The universe is duly in order, every thing is in its place, / What has arrived is in its place and what waits shall be in its place." This suggests that everything in the universe is connected to God and that everything has a purpose.
Structure
The Square Deific is a poem that is structured in a unique way. It is divided into four stanzas, each of which has four lines. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This allows Whitman to express his ideas in a more natural and organic way.
The structure of the poem is also significant because it reflects the idea of the square. The four stanzas represent the four sides of a square, and the four lines in each stanza represent the four corners of a square. This reinforces the idea that God is the foundation of all things and that everything in the universe is connected to Him.
Language
The language used in The Square Deific is simple and direct. Whitman uses everyday language to express his ideas, which makes the poem accessible to a wide audience. He also uses repetition to reinforce his ideas. For example, he repeats the phrase "The square deific" throughout the poem, which emphasizes the importance of this concept.
Whitman also uses imagery to create a vivid picture in the reader's mind. He writes, "The sea-gulls oscillating their bodies, the hay-boat in the twilight, and the belated lighter." This creates a sense of movement and energy, which reflects the idea that everything in the universe is connected to God and that everything has a purpose.
Conclusion
The Square Deific is a masterpiece of Walt Whitman that explores the concept of divinity and the relationship between God and man. The poem is structured in a unique way that reflects the idea of the square, and the language used is simple and direct. Whitman's use of metaphor, repetition, and imagery creates a powerful and profound message that resonates with readers to this day. The Square Deific is a testament to Whitman's genius and his ability to capture the essence of life in his words.
Editor Recommended Sites
Coin Exchange - Crypto Exchange List & US Crypto Exchanges: Interface with crypto exchanges to get data and realtime updatesTraining Course: The best courses on programming languages, tutorials and best practice
Ethereum Exchange: Ethereum based layer-2 network protocols for Exchanges. Decentralized exchanges supporting ETH
Learn DBT: Tutorials and courses on learning DBT
Analysis and Explanation of famous writings: Editorial explanation of famous writings. Prose Summary Explanation and Meaning & Analysis Explanation
Recommended Similar Analysis
In Praise Of Limestone by W.H. Auden analysisThe Wind in the Hemlock by Sarah Teasdale analysis
Justice by Langston Hughes analysis
what if a much of a which of a wind... (XX) by e.e. cummings analysis
Despairing Cries by Walt Whitman analysis
How Beastly The Bourgeois Is by D.H. Lawrence analysis
Emily Dickinson by Linda Pastan analysis
This Lime-Tree Bower My Prison by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Crossing The Bar by Alfred Lord Tennyson analysis
Tree At My Window by Robert Frost analysis