'As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado' by Walt Whitman
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AS I lay with my head in your lap, Camerado,
The confession I made I resume--what I said to you in the open air I
resume:
I know I am restless, and make others so;
I know my words are weapons, full of danger, full of death;
(Indeed I am myself the real soldier;
It is not he, there, with his bayonet, and not the red-striped
artilleryman;)
For I confront peace, security, and all the settled laws, to unsettle
them;
I am more resolute because all have denied me, than I could ever have
been had all accepted me;
I heed not, and have never heeded, either experience, cautions,
majorities, nor ridicule;
And the threat of what is call'd hell is little or nothing to me;10
And the lure of what is call'd heaven is little or nothing to me;
...Dear camerado! I confess I have urged you onward with me, and
still urge you, without the least idea what is our destination,
Or whether we shall be victorious, or utterly quell'd and defeated.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry, As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado by Walt Whitman
Have you ever read a poem that makes you feel like you're being embraced by its words? That's the experience I had when I read Walt Whitman's "Poetry, As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado." This poem is a love letter to poetry itself, and it's filled with sensual imagery and a deep sense of connection between the speaker and his muse. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I'll take you on a journey through the themes, imagery, and language of this beautiful poem.
Theme: The Power of Poetry
At its core, "Poetry, As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado" is an ode to the power of poetry. The poem begins with the speaker addressing his "Camerado" (a term for a close friend or comrade) and saying that he wants to lie with his head in their lap and "breathe the fragrance myself and know it and bathe in it." This image of intimacy and closeness is central to the poem, as the speaker envisions himself as being so close to poetry that he can "feed" on it and "assimilate more than I dreamed."
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses striking imagery to describe the power of poetry. He says that it is "the voice of the mother of the world" and that it "makes immortal all that is best in man." He also talks about poetry as a force that can "distil deliciousness" from life's experiences, and that can "bring to life" even the most mundane objects.
One of the most powerful lines in the poem comes when the speaker proclaims that "the words of my book nothing, the drift of it everything." This idea speaks to the transcendent nature of poetry, as the words themselves may be insignificant, but the emotions and ideas they convey can be life-changing.
Imagery: Sensuality and Intimacy
One of the most striking aspects of this poem is its sensual imagery. The speaker envisions himself lying with his head in his Camerado's lap, breathing in the fragrance of poetry, and being so close to it that he can "feel with [his] bare feet the earth." This physical closeness is mirrored in the language of the poem, which often uses tactile, sensory language to describe the power of poetry. For example, the speaker talks about poetry "drenching me with its delight" and "bathing me in its fragrance."
The imagery in this poem also emphasizes the intimacy between the speaker and his muse. The Camerado is not just a friend, but a lover and confidant who shares the speaker's passion for poetry. The speaker describes the act of lying with his head in the Camerado's lap as a "surrender" and a "voluptuousness," highlighting the idea that poetry is not something to be studied or analyzed, but something to be experienced and shared.
Language: Free Verse and Repetition
"Poetry, As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado" is written in free verse, which allows Whitman to experiment with language and form in a way that more structured forms do not. This lack of structure gives the poem a sense of freedom and spontaneity, as the lines flow and rhyme in unexpected ways.
One of the most effective techniques Whitman uses in this poem is repetition. The phrase "As I lay with my head in your lap, Camerado" appears several times throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and reinforcing the idea of intimacy and closeness. Similarly, the repetition of the phrase "I mind how we lay" creates a sense of nostalgia and allows the speaker to revisit a past experience.
Interpretation: The Personal Power of Poetry
So what does all of this imagery and language add up to? To me, "Poetry, As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado" is a poem that celebrates the personal power of poetry. The speaker is not interested in poetry as an academic pursuit or a means of impressing others; he simply wants to be close to it, to feel its power, and to share that experience with a trusted friend.
The intimacy and sensuality of the imagery suggest that poetry is not just an intellectual pursuit, but something that can touch us on a deeply personal level. The repetition of phrases like "As I lay with my head in your lap, Camerado" and "I mind how we lay" create a sense of nostalgia and suggest that poetry can transport us to past experiences and emotions.
The theme of the power of poetry is summed up in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker says that he wants to "pour my spirit out on thee in prayer" and that he wants to "bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love." These lines suggest that poetry is a way of connecting with something larger than ourselves, something eternal and universal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Poetry, As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado" is a beautiful ode to the power of poetry. Through its sensual imagery, free verse structure, and repetition of key phrases, the poem celebrates the personal connection that we can have with poetry and the ways in which it can touch us on a deeply emotional level. If you're looking for a poem that will make you feel like you're being embraced by its words, look no further than Walt Whitman's "Poetry, As I lay With Head In Your Lap, Camerado."
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
As I Lay with Head in Your Lap, Camerado: A Masterpiece of Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, the father of free verse poetry, is known for his unconventional style of writing. His poems are characterized by their lack of rhyme and meter, and their focus on the individual and the natural world. One of his most famous works, As I Lay with Head in Your Lap, Camerado, is a prime example of his unique style and perspective.
The poem, which was first published in 1860 in the third edition of Leaves of Grass, is a tribute to friendship and the power of human connection. It is written in the first person, and the speaker addresses his friend, or "camerado," throughout the poem. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the speaker's relationship with his friend.
The first stanza begins with the speaker lying with his head in his friend's lap, looking up at the stars. He describes the beauty of the night sky, and the sense of peace and contentment he feels in the presence of his friend. He says, "As I lay with my head in your lap, camerado, / The stars peeping through the windowpanes / Jealous of us two asleep in the bed." This image of the stars being jealous of the speaker and his friend is a powerful one, suggesting that their connection is so strong that even the heavens are envious.
The second stanza explores the idea of intimacy and vulnerability in friendship. The speaker says, "I know I am restless, and make others so, / I know my words are weapons, full of danger, full of death." He acknowledges that he can be difficult to be around, and that his words can be hurtful. However, he also says that his friend knows him better than anyone else, and that he feels safe and accepted in his presence. He says, "But I am so full of love, so full of longing, / I cannot help but pour it out to you." This line is a testament to the power of friendship to allow us to be vulnerable and open with one another.
The final stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker says, "I do not offer the old smooth prizes, but offer rough new prizes, / These are the days that must happen to you and me." He is saying that he does not offer his friend material possessions or superficial rewards, but instead offers him something much more valuable: the experience of living and growing together. He acknowledges that life is not always easy, and that there will be challenges and hardships along the way. However, he also says that these experiences are what make life worth living, and that he is grateful to be sharing them with his friend.
Overall, As I Lay with Head in Your Lap, Camerado is a beautiful tribute to the power of friendship and human connection. Whitman's use of free verse allows him to express his ideas in a natural and unforced way, and his focus on the individual and the natural world gives the poem a sense of universality. The poem is a reminder that, no matter how difficult life may be, we are never truly alone as long as we have friends to share it with.
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