Reflection- Song of Myself

I would just like to say that I absolutely love the poem "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman.  The very first lines are "I celebrate myself, and sing myself,/ And what I assume you shall assume" (Whitman).  I need to remember that just because a poem is told in first person does not mean that it is the actual author of the poem.  I found that this poem was kind of a reflection on the speakers life or personality--the speakers "self." (Yay for making connections!!)  Okay, now I am done with first person because this is supposed to be formal writing.

The speaker definitely values nature and possibly believes that using nature can help you reflect on yourself.  "Have you reckon'd a thousand acres much?  have you reckon'd the earth much?/ Have you practis'd so long to learn to read?/ Have you felt so proud to get at the meaning of poems?" (Whitman).  Walt Whitman is saying that in order to totally learn one's "self," they must take away everything in their lives and be completely pure.  Nature is seen as being pure because it is untouched by people, and is a good thing to be influenced by.  There was also another stanza that sort of ties into this.  "There was never any more inception that there is now,/ Nor any more youth or age than there is now,/ And will never be any more perfection than there is now,/ Nor any more heaven or hell than there is now" (Whitman).  Walt Whitman is talking about how nature is perfection, which is why it is such an awesome place to self reflection.  There are no distractions to stray thoughts.  Walt Whitman could also be talking about life in general.  Right now, one will never be younger.  There was never a better time than right now.  Walt Whitman is recognizing that you only live once (YOLO), so why not live in the moment?  "Loafe with me on the grass, loose the stop from your throat,/ Not words, not music or rhyme I want, not custom or lecture, not even the best,/ Only the lull I like, the hum of your valved voice" (Whitman).  Walt Whitman just wanted to relax in the countryside with his thoughts and the opportunity to look at his life and reflect on himself.  He is telling his company that in order to fully enjoy themselves and life in general, they need to kick back and take it easy.



"The Walt Whitman Archive." SONG OF MYSELF. (Leaves of Grass [1891-1892]) -. Web. 04 Apr. 2012.