The past couple weeks readings have been a perfect reflection of Whitman’s age. He seems to be dwelling on what hes loved and what he forsees. Particularly, this weeks reading Whitman is saying his good buy. In the poem “As at Thy Portals Also Death” Whitman sees his life coming to an end as did his mothers but he explains as she died her memory still remains. He says that in a way that implys after he is gone she will be forgotten. We know this isnt true and its because of him she will live in eternitity beside him. Although the poem is few in words it conveys a love unmatched. He explains everything about her was perfect and remembers each detail as if it were yesterday. The last line is very interesting ” I grave a monumnetal line, before I go, amid these songs, And set a tombstone here”. Here i think hes hoping that when he dies, others will remember him in the same way as he remembers his mother.
I think “My Legacy” was my favorite poem of these few. He may not have amassed a great wealth or many objects that so many others live for. Instead he lived in the moment grasping the simple things in life as well as friendships. And instead of leaving such materialistic things behind which he practically renounced in his life, he left us his eloquent words and life experiences. I think the title “My Legacy” is a perfect description of those words. he explains so much in so few words. Someone who hasn’t read much of his work wouldn’t see that but us scholars should.
Some of the other short poems were a little too short for me. So few words i dont feel can convey something as moving.
For those of you who have viewed Whitmans Disciples page should know how far out there they were. I wont talk much about them as they are my group progect. But to say the least they were a bit looney and a bit ingenious.