Song To Myself
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Included in the 1855 publication of Leaves of Grass, “Song of Myself”, was among the series of twelve untitled poems, dominating the volume not only by its sheer bulk, but also by the brilliant display of Walt Whitmans original thought and innovative techniques. In the 1856 edition, Whitman gave the poem its first title, “Poem of Walt Whitman, an American,” which was later shortened to “Walt Whitman” in the third publication in 1860. It wasnt until 1881 that Whitman would shape Leaves of Grass into its final structure, grouping the poem into fifty-two sections and gracing it with the title, “Song of Myself.”
Through out Whitmans masterpiece the reader is taken on a poetic journey through the discoveries made during the “awaking” period between birth and death. Although Whitman places himself in the “I” position when opening the poem, it is his uncanny ability to formulate words that cause the “Myself” to dissolve into the background of ones mind, which allows the reader to connect with the words on a personal level and discover the message Whitman is trying to convey. And regardless of the years passed since Whitman recorded his thoughts, the significance still stands; the communication of man is hidden beneath his use of symbolism and inability to break down thoughts to essential concepts therefore producing action.
A simple question from a child causes the first examination of mans ineffectiveness towards communication. In the sixth section of the poem, the narrator is asked, “What is the grass?” And the narrator is forced to explore his own use of symbolism. As the child presents handfuls of grass it becomes a symbol of the evolution of nature. It is also a common link between people, regardless of class or merit, all over the United States; the ultimate symbol of democracy. It grows everywhere. With the Civil War reflecting in his