Song of Myself - Revelation of the Heart

Walt Whitman, one of America's greatest poets, essayists and journalists lived from May 31, 1819 to March 26, 1892. His views represent a collaboration of Transcendentalism and Realism. He is classified as the father of freeverse poetry. His first publication, "Leaves of Grass," was published with his own funds in 1855. Over the years it was revised to "I Celebrate Myself" and in 1881 eventually evolved into "Songs of Myself."This 2008 edition of Song of Myself, published by Bn Publishing brings to the forefront the internal thoughts of a great poet and author. The text cuts across the spectrum of poetic ideas and presents a revelation one would have never thought about in this fashion or style. One could consider this excellent book as a continuous series of freeform or freestyle flowing poems. However, others could probably consider it in a different manner based on their experience level.The book uses a variety of poetic techniques to make it inspiring and uplifting. For e
xample, Whitman uses the rhetorical question to spark the thinking pattern of the reader. This is evident in section two, where he asked a series of questions and ends it with, "Have you ever felt so proud to get at the meaning of poems?" Obviously, he must have been baffled before like most of us with the interpretation or meaning of a poem or two.The poems are written in a numbered sequencing format for ease of reading. It appears that each numbered section is not independent of each other. Any of the numbered sections could be called a separate chapter in the book. However, upon deep examination one could easily find a link to the previous section, which makes the book flows in a continuous manner without any breaks between sections or chapters.Section five has the sequencing pattern of a list poem. One could also say that these, as well as other sections are written in the anaphora style. This technique is a rhetorical device in which several successive lines, phrases, c
lauses, or sentences begin with the same word or phrase. Although the anaphora at times may sound monotonous, mechanical, or artificial, the poems flow with such grace and style and bring to the surface a powerful and memorable structure of lines and verses in an inspiring way.The principle of reincarnation comes to light in section forty-nine where he addresses the subject of death, which he states is trying to alarm him. His philosophy is that he has an outlet, which marks a relief and escape possible. As to the notion of a corpse, he makes it clear that he is not offended, but has already smelled the white roses, both unsweetened and growing. Regarding life, he states that he has died himself ten thousand times before and has heard the whispering stars of heaven. The book also touched upon the topic of God and heaven with a sprinkling throughout its pages.This is an excellent book packed with an integrated variety of poetic styles and forms. One must read it to appreciate
the mind span of the author. This is truly a unique book and an American classic.

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