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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Whitman is a very particular kind of man. Pantheistic, sexually hedonistic, patriotic yet humanist. His poetry is meant to be read aloud, I feel (as someone whose experience of leaves of grass was boostes tenfold when I acquired the audiobook 2/3 of the way in....)
While I prefer the more short form and conceptual works of Whitman:
- I sing the body electric (my favourite of his poems, possibly)
-To You
-As Adam Early in the Morning
-Years of Meteors
Whitman's longform poetry and songs are still spectacular, though perhaps a bit repetitive and explicit in meaning for me as someone who prefers mystery in my lyric. However, I am still very glad I have read some Whitman (some being ....800 pages , yowza).
One of my favourite longform poems of his was A Song of the Rolling Earth , another which I found charming was the Sleepers. I find Whitman's unabashed embrace of the existential really refreshing, he approaches the question of death with a bear hug, quite the difference from the baleful moans of some poets regarding the terror of the unknown, haha.
While I prefer the more short form and conceptual works of Whitman:
- I sing the body electric (my favourite of his poems, possibly)
-To You
-As Adam Early in the Morning
-Years of Meteors
Whitman's longform poetry and songs are still spectacular, though perhaps a bit repetitive and explicit in meaning for me as someone who prefers mystery in my lyric. However, I am still very glad I have read some Whitman (some being ....800 pages , yowza).
One of my favourite longform poems of his was A Song of the Rolling Earth , another which I found charming was the Sleepers. I find Whitman's unabashed embrace of the existential really refreshing, he approaches the question of death with a bear hug, quite the difference from the baleful moans of some poets regarding the terror of the unknown, haha.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself"
I read a translation in Dutch of the original edition of 1855, with only 12 poems, and the first one occupies half of the book. This minimal approach (later versions were much, much more elaborate) has the effect of a trumpet call, it's pure vitalism, colored by a strong physical sensuality. It expresses deep faith in life and death, and a sense of belonging to all (a kind of transcendentalism), the organic and the anorganic, the whole universe. At the same time it testifies to a fundamental feeling of unfettered freedom, indissolubly linked with the 'I', the ego.
Style and language of these poems together form a real verbal orgy. Whitman presents grass as a symbol of life: it's persistent, wild, bending with the wind, present all around. The secret of life?: that's life itself, but with the 'ego' at its center, a complete universe orbiting around itself. “I am large, I contain multitudes".
While reading, the rational and moral voice inside myself whispered that it's not that simple, and that all this egocentrism comes with a price. I know a lot of people can't stand the exuberance of the Whitman-show (especially in his later, more elaborate versions). But what the heck: it's a dazzling experience to read this, a breath of fresh air in times of darkness. I can take on the world now.
I read a translation in Dutch of the original edition of 1855, with only 12 poems, and the first one occupies half of the book. This minimal approach (later versions were much, much more elaborate) has the effect of a trumpet call, it's pure vitalism, colored by a strong physical sensuality. It expresses deep faith in life and death, and a sense of belonging to all (a kind of transcendentalism), the organic and the anorganic, the whole universe. At the same time it testifies to a fundamental feeling of unfettered freedom, indissolubly linked with the 'I', the ego.
Style and language of these poems together form a real verbal orgy. Whitman presents grass as a symbol of life: it's persistent, wild, bending with the wind, present all around. The secret of life?: that's life itself, but with the 'ego' at its center, a complete universe orbiting around itself. “I am large, I contain multitudes".
While reading, the rational and moral voice inside myself whispered that it's not that simple, and that all this egocentrism comes with a price. I know a lot of people can't stand the exuberance of the Whitman-show (especially in his later, more elaborate versions). But what the heck: it's a dazzling experience to read this, a breath of fresh air in times of darkness. I can take on the world now.
I thought this book was beautiful and absolutely adored the focus on the beautiful nature of the US. I felt Whitman's connection with the earth and his love for it throughout every poem. I also enjoyed his comments on the human body and humanity's role here on earth. Whitman's discussion of the sensual pleasures of living on this earth were very brave for the time and very candid. A bit of a difficult place for me to start a journey with poetry, maybe, but a very enjoyable read nonetheless.
The actual (gay) bible.
“You must I habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every moment of your life”
“I exist as I am, that is enough […] I am the poet of the body, / and I am the poet of the soul.”
“You must I habit yourself to the dazzle of the light and of every moment of your life”
“I exist as I am, that is enough […] I am the poet of the body, / and I am the poet of the soul.”
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
some poems i liked, some i did not
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
TL;DR "I am everything and everything is I."
Or as Paglia put it: "Dionysus' polymorphous perversity breaks down Apollonian categorization and hierarchy."
Or as Paglia put it: "Dionysus' polymorphous perversity breaks down Apollonian categorization and hierarchy."
It is mainly the subject matter that kept me from enjoying these poems. With some exceptions, his life experiences and thoughts don't make my heart sing with him.