5 Walt Whitman Observations from Leaves of Grass (so far!)

 

My favorite copy of Leaves of Grass, with my glasses, on the arm of my Adirondack chair on my Mississippi front porch 

One of my current reads is Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (I'm usually reading several books at any given moment, as you probably do as well!)

It's divided in sections, and so far I've read Inscriptions, Starting from Paumanok, and now I'm about halfway through Song of Myself. I only read it for 10 or 15 minutes at a time, and never allow myself to become bogged down or bored. Poetry is not very conducive to speed reading, so I don't even try.

Of what I've read so far, I love parts of it and dislike others. I suppose that one of the goals of art is to get a reaction from the person experiencing it, and by that definition alone this is great stuff.

Some Bumpkin observations:

1. He likes being outside.

2. He's a people watcher.

3. He likes being naked.

4. He truly loves and cares for everyone regardless of their race, social status, etc

5. He contradicts the Bible often (a book well known at that time throughout the U.S. even among the non-religious like Walt), and it seems to be intentional. The writing is very "brave" in that respect, because he would have gotten a lot of flak for saying some of this stuff.

For instance in stanza 3 of Song of Myself he says: 

"Welcome is every organ and attribute of me, and of any man hearty and clean/Not an inch or a particle of an inch is vile, and non shall be less familiar than the rest."

In contrast, the Bible character Job said (after a couple of chapters long lecture from God): 

"Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."

Throughout his writing, Walt has nothing to hide from anyone, let alone the Lord. To borrow a phrase from the Biblical prophet Isaiah, Walt aims to "exalt my throne above the stars of God" and to "become like the Most High".

While reading Walt Whitman, I'm reminded of why I like classic literature. It makes me think! When I read something that I don't like or that I disagree with, I'm forced to face the question, "Why?" Same goes for when I love or connect with something in a deep way. 

I can definitely see why some people were bothered by  some of Walt's writing, and also why it's considered classic American poetry that everyone should read at least once. 

These are just observations as I work my way through, and I appreciate ole Walt for his candor.

As Eldrige Cleaver famously said: "Too much agreement kills a chat."

-Jake

(To pick up your own copy of "Leaves of Grass" check out this affiliate link: 

https://amzn.to/3USLgWt)

Also, for readings from the classics, check out The Cultured Bumpkin on:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCF3tia9JM2y496McAKIBR7A (audiobooks, poetry readings, and sleep podcast episodes)

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-cultured-bumpkin/id1441593958 (also available on Spotify and almost anywhere else)

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheCulturedBumpkin (ad-free audiobooks)