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.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Journal 3: Walt Whitman
Michelle Romero
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
"Leaves of Grass[Song of Myself]" pg. 43
"The young men float on their backs, their white bellies swell to the sun....
they do not ask who seizes fast to them,
They do not know who puffs and declines with pendant and bending arch,
They do not think whom they souse with spray."
In this scene there are 28 young men floating and bathing in the shore. The water in this scene represents sexual desire or need. Many of Whitman's poems have similar themes in fact. For example, in "From Pent-up Aching Rivers" he depicts the ache and desire of a man for a woman, his penis for her vagina and their need for procreation. Likewise, in this quote, he explores a woman's sexual desire for a man and her physical reactions to him. He uses specific words to suggest this, such as "puffs and declines," "pendant and bending arch," "souse with spray."
This piece in "Leaves of Grass" exposes sexuality in women, desire and lust in women. For his time, it was radical to suggest that a woman would have sexual needs and desires, or that she would fantasize about him the way he does over her. Women were typically more conservatively dressed and expected to be well-mannered according to the Anglo-Saxon customs of the predominantly white society. This extreme description of lust and possibly even self-arousal as she thinks of the men she's watching from her window is quite interesting to see from a male poet.
In another portion of this scene, the speaker reveals that of all 28 men, it is the homeliest that she desires. I think this bit is profound in describing that the primping and grooming is not what matters, but rather that raw attraction between a man and a woman which causes them both to be drawn to each other like a magnet. His expressions of raw, passionate, poetic sexuality are beautiful.
On the other hand, the way he describes the woman "hiding" in her room, and watching these men seems devious to say the least. Her physical stimulation from them in secret makes her look like a dirty whore. After all, "they do not know who they souse with spray." I prefer "From Pent-up Aching Rivers" because I feel it portrays the raw, natural desire of a man to be consumed in a woman and her in him in a beautiful, artistic way. It describes every detail from arousal to procreation while still preserving the sanctity of sexual union. This poem does not.
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
"Leaves of Grass[Song of Myself]" pg. 43
"The young men float on their backs, their white bellies swell to the sun....
they do not ask who seizes fast to them,
They do not know who puffs and declines with pendant and bending arch,
They do not think whom they souse with spray."
In this scene there are 28 young men floating and bathing in the shore. The water in this scene represents sexual desire or need. Many of Whitman's poems have similar themes in fact. For example, in "From Pent-up Aching Rivers" he depicts the ache and desire of a man for a woman, his penis for her vagina and their need for procreation. Likewise, in this quote, he explores a woman's sexual desire for a man and her physical reactions to him. He uses specific words to suggest this, such as "puffs and declines," "pendant and bending arch," "souse with spray."
This piece in "Leaves of Grass" exposes sexuality in women, desire and lust in women. For his time, it was radical to suggest that a woman would have sexual needs and desires, or that she would fantasize about him the way he does over her. Women were typically more conservatively dressed and expected to be well-mannered according to the Anglo-Saxon customs of the predominantly white society. This extreme description of lust and possibly even self-arousal as she thinks of the men she's watching from her window is quite interesting to see from a male poet.
In another portion of this scene, the speaker reveals that of all 28 men, it is the homeliest that she desires. I think this bit is profound in describing that the primping and grooming is not what matters, but rather that raw attraction between a man and a woman which causes them both to be drawn to each other like a magnet. His expressions of raw, passionate, poetic sexuality are beautiful.
On the other hand, the way he describes the woman "hiding" in her room, and watching these men seems devious to say the least. Her physical stimulation from them in secret makes her look like a dirty whore. After all, "they do not know who they souse with spray." I prefer "From Pent-up Aching Rivers" because I feel it portrays the raw, natural desire of a man to be consumed in a woman and her in him in a beautiful, artistic way. It describes every detail from arousal to procreation while still preserving the sanctity of sexual union. This poem does not.
Journal 2: Walt Whitman
Michelle Romero
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
“Leaves of Grass [Song of Myself],” pg. 37
“Houses and rooms are full of perfumes….the shelves are crowded with perfumes,
I breathe the fragrance myself, and know it and like it,
The distillation would intoxicate me also, but I shall not let it.
The atmosphere is not a perfume….it has no taste of the distillation….it is odorless.”
In this quote, the speaker uses imagery to describe how societal rules are often suffocating and also intoxicating. For example, the contrast between a house being filled with the smell of perfume and the atmosphere being pure and odorless, suggests that the natural is freeing, allowing your nose to breathe; after all, perfume is man made and its purpose is to alter the natural scent of man. A house as a structure on the other hand, which is man made as well, is intoxicating with perfume. The word intoxicate here describes a substance that would stupefy or even poison a person.
Furthermore, the word distillation is a process of separating or purifying a liquid before later condensing the vapor which suggests the perfume may in fact have been intended to have this effect. Cross-referenced with an image soon after which illustrates: “I have heard what the talkers were talking…the talk of the beginning and the end,” suggests there may be a religious aspect to factor in. “The talkers” may be preachers, door to door Bible thumpers, or any other conservative Christians since the religion is well known for its concepts on the beginning and end of humanity. Therefore, the speaker is likely speaking to the “purifying” way of the conservatives in their perfuming of houses, and consequently intoxicating or poisoning its inhabitants.
Another quote which supports this interpretation says: “And leaves for me baskets covered with white towels bulging the house with their plenty.” Again, leaves being green and a plant, would represent life, a life which is being covered by the white towels. Towels of course, are an ordinary household item and their color suggests a pure, possibly religious undertone. The basket, which is woven, is constant with the theme of a knit society, woven together of old and new, dead and alive. Therefore, the pure white conservatives who make up society’s majority, like the perfume, cover or poison the life within.
It is no wonder that the mainstream society in Whitman’s time was taken back at his poem. Aside from the unordinary form and sexual language, it was largely critical of their social values and threatened their nice, tea-party way of life. I feel this poem is a master of rhetoric if ever there were any. The speaker is able to hint at multiple themes and criticize everything known to man without actually saying it. At times he is more obvious while in other lines, the suggestion is so subtle it might easily be passed over. In fact, there is so much being said in the text as a whole that just when it seems the speaker has moved on to a different topic, a familiar thread is revealed, leading the reader back to the beginning. Truly, I am entertained at his cleverness already.
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
“Leaves of Grass [Song of Myself],” pg. 37
“Houses and rooms are full of perfumes….the shelves are crowded with perfumes,
I breathe the fragrance myself, and know it and like it,
The distillation would intoxicate me also, but I shall not let it.
The atmosphere is not a perfume….it has no taste of the distillation….it is odorless.”
In this quote, the speaker uses imagery to describe how societal rules are often suffocating and also intoxicating. For example, the contrast between a house being filled with the smell of perfume and the atmosphere being pure and odorless, suggests that the natural is freeing, allowing your nose to breathe; after all, perfume is man made and its purpose is to alter the natural scent of man. A house as a structure on the other hand, which is man made as well, is intoxicating with perfume. The word intoxicate here describes a substance that would stupefy or even poison a person.
Furthermore, the word distillation is a process of separating or purifying a liquid before later condensing the vapor which suggests the perfume may in fact have been intended to have this effect. Cross-referenced with an image soon after which illustrates: “I have heard what the talkers were talking…the talk of the beginning and the end,” suggests there may be a religious aspect to factor in. “The talkers” may be preachers, door to door Bible thumpers, or any other conservative Christians since the religion is well known for its concepts on the beginning and end of humanity. Therefore, the speaker is likely speaking to the “purifying” way of the conservatives in their perfuming of houses, and consequently intoxicating or poisoning its inhabitants.
Another quote which supports this interpretation says: “And leaves for me baskets covered with white towels bulging the house with their plenty.” Again, leaves being green and a plant, would represent life, a life which is being covered by the white towels. Towels of course, are an ordinary household item and their color suggests a pure, possibly religious undertone. The basket, which is woven, is constant with the theme of a knit society, woven together of old and new, dead and alive. Therefore, the pure white conservatives who make up society’s majority, like the perfume, cover or poison the life within.
It is no wonder that the mainstream society in Whitman’s time was taken back at his poem. Aside from the unordinary form and sexual language, it was largely critical of their social values and threatened their nice, tea-party way of life. I feel this poem is a master of rhetoric if ever there were any. The speaker is able to hint at multiple themes and criticize everything known to man without actually saying it. At times he is more obvious while in other lines, the suggestion is so subtle it might easily be passed over. In fact, there is so much being said in the text as a whole that just when it seems the speaker has moved on to a different topic, a familiar thread is revealed, leading the reader back to the beginning. Truly, I am entertained at his cleverness already.
Journal 1: Walt Whitman
Michelle Romero
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
"Leaves of Grass [Song of Myself]" 1885 edition
“I celebrate myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
Right from the opening quote, we are introduced to a major theme in Whitman’s poem, “Leaves of Grass.” Whitman uses language to suggest that all humanity is connected, both living and nonliving. For example, the speaker in this poem begins by saying, “I celebrate myself.” At first, it would appear as though he is a self-centered individual, gloating in his own splendor. However, he goes on to say, “And what I assume you shall assume,” almost as though he were suggesting or inviting his audience to join in his celebration as they assume the same. This idea is further supported in the next line: “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” The concept of one atom or particle on earth being shared by or affecting a separate particular, leads us to an illustration of an interlocking circle or pattern to life pulsating and consuming all it encounters.
In fact, a mentor of mine once said, “Beware the excesses of your generation because they will soon become the norms of the next.” I believe this idea is closely related to what Whitman is expressing though the speaker. For example, aside from the quote above, we find others like “Always a knit of identity,” and “Lack one lacks both….and the unseen is proved by the seen, Till that becomes unseen and receives proof in its turn.” These quotes reflect an interwoven pattern to life. The speaker is illustrating for us how one “lack,” or “excess” as my mentor would have put it, becomes seen, until the next lack then later becomes the seen, and these together create identity. Whitman is demonstrating the constant change of opinions and social values over time.
I completely agree with his insight in this portion of the poem which suggests that each generation, each change undergone, contributes to the creation of the new and affects all of humanity down to the slightest atom. To me, change begins in resistance. One example in American history is that of slavery and its later abolition as citizens began to realize the injustice of such opression. Racial equality, like gender equality did not come about overnight, yet over time the perceptions of society as a whole and the norms of today have drastically, to whatever limited degree, changed. However small the choices and actions of some men and women how ever long ago, led to more and more change until now when women can actually vote and share in equal rights, and even still not to the degree imaginable in the future I suspect. The point is that life, humanity, is intricately woven together and will inevitably and surely continue to change.
The other part of the message I believe the speaker recommends, is that if we will all end up assuming the same things eventually, why not just embrace the beauty of life in all its vulgarity right now? This is probably the more tricky part of accepting the word than just nodding and agreeing with someone else's ideas. Is society capable even to just throw their hands up and say, “What the hell, let’s celebrate?” I’m not sure.
Eng. 48B
Dr. Scott Lankford
"Leaves of Grass [Song of Myself]" 1885 edition
“I celebrate myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”
Right from the opening quote, we are introduced to a major theme in Whitman’s poem, “Leaves of Grass.” Whitman uses language to suggest that all humanity is connected, both living and nonliving. For example, the speaker in this poem begins by saying, “I celebrate myself.” At first, it would appear as though he is a self-centered individual, gloating in his own splendor. However, he goes on to say, “And what I assume you shall assume,” almost as though he were suggesting or inviting his audience to join in his celebration as they assume the same. This idea is further supported in the next line: “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.” The concept of one atom or particle on earth being shared by or affecting a separate particular, leads us to an illustration of an interlocking circle or pattern to life pulsating and consuming all it encounters.
In fact, a mentor of mine once said, “Beware the excesses of your generation because they will soon become the norms of the next.” I believe this idea is closely related to what Whitman is expressing though the speaker. For example, aside from the quote above, we find others like “Always a knit of identity,” and “Lack one lacks both….and the unseen is proved by the seen, Till that becomes unseen and receives proof in its turn.” These quotes reflect an interwoven pattern to life. The speaker is illustrating for us how one “lack,” or “excess” as my mentor would have put it, becomes seen, until the next lack then later becomes the seen, and these together create identity. Whitman is demonstrating the constant change of opinions and social values over time.
I completely agree with his insight in this portion of the poem which suggests that each generation, each change undergone, contributes to the creation of the new and affects all of humanity down to the slightest atom. To me, change begins in resistance. One example in American history is that of slavery and its later abolition as citizens began to realize the injustice of such opression. Racial equality, like gender equality did not come about overnight, yet over time the perceptions of society as a whole and the norms of today have drastically, to whatever limited degree, changed. However small the choices and actions of some men and women how ever long ago, led to more and more change until now when women can actually vote and share in equal rights, and even still not to the degree imaginable in the future I suspect. The point is that life, humanity, is intricately woven together and will inevitably and surely continue to change.
The other part of the message I believe the speaker recommends, is that if we will all end up assuming the same things eventually, why not just embrace the beauty of life in all its vulgarity right now? This is probably the more tricky part of accepting the word than just nodding and agreeing with someone else's ideas. Is society capable even to just throw their hands up and say, “What the hell, let’s celebrate?” I’m not sure.
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