Journal 4: Walt Whitman

Michelle Romero
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford


"From Children of Adam" > "From Pent-Up Aching Rivers" pg. 95

"The welcome nearness, the sight of the perfect body,
The swimmer swimming naked in the bath, or motionless on his back lying and
floating,
The female form approaching, I pensive, love flesh tremulous aching,"

This quote appears to be a revision on a very similar quote from "Leaves of Grass" which can be viewed on my blog-post titled "Whitman 3." In this scene, a man is described bathing and floating in a river. This is no surprise considering there are other scenes in Whitman's works which describe very similar scenes. In this scene, however, a female approaches and joins the man. The scene then develops into fore-play and love-making.

I have much more respect for this piece of literature as opposed to Whitman's piece in "Leaves of Grass" which depicts a similar theme. A key difference in the two is that this poem includes both partners and the two are able to enjoy each other. The latter version, which was actually written first, is a little less refined and has some flaws. For example, while he is able to show the sexual needs, desire, and lust in a woman, he consequently portrays her as a secretive, devious woman who spies out her window and selfishly fanaticizes of strangers to fulfill her own desires.

On the other hand, I believe Whitman may have done this purposefully with the intent of showing the consequences that result from a woman having to hide and suppress her desires, as opposed to one who is free to explore her sexuality in all its fullness. Of course, he chooses to suggest that a woman like that in "Pent-up Aching Rivers" partakes in a much more fulfilling and liberating sexual life with her partner as we see the tremendous amount of pleasure both parties receive from their passionate union.

Whitman's language in this poem is very spiritual in his descriptions of sex as a very sacred and natural union between a man and a woman. The poem has many references to the Bible which suggest there is a spiritual aspect to the union of a man and woman as well. For example, the speaker references two hawks and two fish when he could have used a different number or no number at all. The pairing of two refers to the story of Noah's ark in the Bible where all the animals were paired in two. He also refers to the union as an oath, which testifies to its sacredness. In addition, he calls the act "divine," being commanded by the "master" to partake in such events.

Whitman was not intending to debase the Biblical values of religious conservatives, he was rather suggesting that the means by which these individuals who made up much of the society, used to enforce these social standards should be re-evaluated.