Walt Whitman: More Than a War Poet (Part Two)

Whitman, the shameless self-promoter, took a cornerstone piece of American literary criticism offered him by Ralph Waldo Emerson and had it published in a New York paper, much to Emerson's dismay. The aforementioned piece reflects Emerson's poetic sense, when he describes "Leaves of Grass" as being so wonderful that "the solid sense of the book is a sober certainty." I imagine Whitman's actions hurt Emerson's feelings, as the letter (comprised of what amounts to poetic prose) seems to come straight from his heart and would be awfully exposing, unexpectedly. Emerson had been taken with Whitman's verse as proof of his own written ideals, wanting to meet the man in person, and saying so, frankly flowing as the poetic mind they shared.

Emerson, I suppose, should've seen that coming after reading Whitman's work, understanding Whitman sees himself as a universal eye, to record his life and society around him. I think there is nothing wrong, furthermore, with his publishing the letter, since otherwise we'd never have known its existence, and it supports the thread of humanity binding us to one another, through history.

One cannot ignore Whitman's national sense, as he addresses President Lincoln's assassination (in "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd"), and precursory clamor for the civil rights movement and ensuing war (in "Beat! Beat! Drums!"). One gets the sense he is actually singing a patriotic song to drive home the cause of freedom. Whitman was more than a war poet and sings such soaring spirits for his countrymen! Sadly, we see such change in Whitman, as he learns the effects of war (in "Come Up from the Fields Father"). Men were now wearing red their hands with the blood of kin, and this was the most brutal war our country has ever experienced, as well as the most personal.

Whitman felt that learning couldn't be contained to the classroom, and notes this in "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." His poetry is wrought from raw experience, his words often directed at writers of past and future generations, while self-proclaiming he was a prophet. He welcomes us to learn all one can in life, through previous mind, and I approach learning, in general, with the same optimism. I write of learning from a different perspective than he chose, actually enjoying the rush of information cramming, the reading, the forced learning, which makes my mind expand and offers me hope for my family's future. Knowledge in the classroom can be enjoyable if we own passion for the subject matter. School (college) can be a useful tool for discovering our own potential and gaining valued feedback.

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