Crossing Brooklyn Ferry
Nicole for 22nd of September, 2009
When reading “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”, I taught about Brooklynites still using the ferry to cross the river today, well maybe not the ferry, but the yellow water taxis. Never mind we have the all mighty 150 year old Brooklyn Bridge which took 14 years to build and finished in 1883, we still relay on the boat to hoover us across the river.
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry was one of Whitman’s pieces, which was written before the Civil War, however there still is that sense of depth that Walt expresses in most of his work. He speaks about the Barriers between us; referring to the process of the almighty land of the free which was going to be divide into rivals.
The poem as I mentioned has Walt’s depth and sensuality but, it again holds everyone to Whitman, he connects to everyone on the boat, never mind he stands on his spot on the boats deck ,he’s in a trans crossing the East River.
Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky,
so I felt,
| Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd, |
Just as you are refreshed by the gladness of the river,
and the bright flow, I was refreshed,
In one excerpt of the poem he starts each sentence with ;
Flow on
Frolic on
Gorgeous
Cross from
Stand Up
Bully For You
Throb
Suspend
Blab
Glaze
Sound
Live
Play
These words really stood out to me, they give the papragraph a story and adds an energy to the surroundings.
The poem also has a feel as though Whitman is on a Journey of some sort, from Manhattan to Brooklyn not really a journey! but journey of his soul. He captures every essence of his surroundings, and again he speaks of gods as he is part of that whole.
My river and sun-set, and my scallop-edged waves of
flood-tide,
| The sea-gulls oscillating their bodies, the hay-boat in the twilight, and the belated lighter; |
| Curious what Gods can exceed these that clasp me by the hand, and with voices I love call me promptly and loudly by my nighest name as I approach, |
| Curious what is more subtle than this which ties me to the woman or man that looks in my face, |
Which fuses me into you now, and pours my meaning
into you.
Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, Lithograph by Currier and Ives
September 24th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Even though i am here in New Jersey, from his writng and your interpretation i feels as if im on the Brooklyn Bridge!
September 28th, 2009 at 10:56 pm
I am happy you feel that way! Walking over the bridge is such a good feeling, the view gives you an eye view of Manhattan and Brooklyn as well as a distance eye of Jersey.