This poem is a eulogy for Wilhelm I of Germany, the first Emperor of what was then the fledgling German empire. It was composed on March 10, 1888, the day after Wilhelm I died.
Columbia: the female personification of America. In this context, Whitman suggests that all of America is mourning the loss of Wilhelm I.
salt sea: could be the many oceans that separate Germany from the various nations that look up to it, or it could mean the tears people are shedding over the loss.
Login
Register
Register
Your account has been created. Check your email for further instructions on how to log in.
Comments by Section