Journal "Song Of Myself"

Stephen Greene

English 48B

March 10, 2011

Journal #25, Walt Whitman

 "Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what I am,

Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary,

Looks down, is erect, or bends an arm on an impalpable certain rest,

Looking with side-curved head curious what will come next,

Both in and out of the game and watching and wondering at it.  

... I believe in you my soul, the other I am must not abase itself to you,

And you must not be abased to the other"(33).

"Whitman wrote in the preface to the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, "The proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it." He believed there was a vital, symbiotic relationship between the poet and society.^[105] This connection was emphasized especially in "Song of Myself" by using an all-powerful first-person narration.^[106] As an American epic, it deviated from the historic use of an elevated hero and instead assumed the identity of the common people.^[107] Leaves of Grass also responded to the impact that recent urbanization in the United States had on the masses"(Walt Whitman, Wikipedia).

This quote comes after Whitman's description of his environment.  A detailed, beautiful list of what is around him in the city.  He says that he stands apart though.  He is of it, but not entirely defined by it.  He speaks of himself as an observer, watching the game that everyone plays, watching the people run around performing their roles in this society.  He is not entirely separate  either.  He is not just an observer, not just watching, but also sees himself within it.  This passage, in this way, almost seems like a description of an out-of-body experience.  He is writing from the perspective of watching all of society and the environment, including himself.  He is witnessing the entire society both from an outside perspective and that of every single person inside it.  He describes many of the different jobs that people are doing, many of the different sounds that are being made, many of the different things that make up the city, large and small.  He does this from a first person perspective to reinforce that he is all of them.  He speaks of a difference between his soul and the other I.  The soul is the artist, the observer, the one who sees all from an outside perspective.  The other is him as a man.  It is physically him within the city, literally what he does daily and the role that he plays.  He speaks from the perspective of his body, his physical being for a moment to say that he believes in his soul, speaking directly to it.  He explains that his soul cannot give in, cannot allow itself to be belittled or lowered by the other, physical identity.  He also says that this physical identity, the Walt Whitman that walks the city all day, cannot lower itself or be subservient to his soul.  As an aspiring musician, this makes a great deal of sense to me and strikes deeply.  I often feel as if there are two inside me; one is the physical self that goes to school everyday, relates with friends, goes to work, etc. and that of the soul which observes all, comments on it, feels in touch with all, transcends physical limitations, and thinks more deeply and creatively.  I feel that art, true art, needs both sides.  Whitman obviously understands this and seeks to portray it in his poems.  I try to do so in my music as well, especially in my lyrics.  The artist must be able to observe from outside and relate to each within, but also be aware of his own physical presence and capability.  It is a delicate balance and a fine line to walk.  It takes tremendous effort at times to keep both sides of oneself alive, equal, and functioning, but it can pay off in spades.  Creativity is achieved not when one bridges this gap, but when one becomes aware of the different parts within him and holds both as important, fosters the growth of both, and thinks and imagines from both, bringing the outside view of one's soul to the people in a way that they can readily relate to.