17 pages • 34 minutes read
A Glimpse
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Further Reading & Resources
Related Poems
“A Noiseless Patient Spider” by Walt Whitman (1868)
This particular poem was originally part of a larger work of poetry titled “Whispers of a Heavenly Death” published in The Broadway, A London Magazine. Just as “A Glimpse” is about human connection amidst noise and chaos, “A Noiseless Patient Spider” is about trying to make space for oneself in the world. The work parallels the act of a spider making its web, throwing out one thread after another, with an individual’s soul trying to make connections in the wide universe. The poem centers on physical connection and individuality.
“O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman (1855)
“O Me! O Life!” was initially published in the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass. Whitman’s speaker opens by questioning the purpose of life amidst chaotic and depressing scenes and an overall lack of hope. However, it then ends with an anthem to individuality and perseverance, maintaining that each person has something to contribute to the world that only they are capable of giving.
“America" by Walt Whitman (1888)
Whitman’s “America” reads as an ode to the nation. It first appeared in The New York Herald on February 11, 1888. Though it was published after the Civil War concluded, the poem paints a picture of a unified country with citizens all equally free and valued. America is personified as a “mother” figure looking over her children.
Further Literary Resources
“Whitman’s Assumptions: “Song of Myself,” in Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman” by David Bromwich (2018)
Bromwich analyzes the innovation inherent in Whitman’s signature poem and the idea of selfhood and individual identity that Whitman promotes. Bromwich shows how “The language of the poem - from declaration to catalogue to prayer - strives to afford a correlative to such personal qualities.” Through a deep dive into a close reading of Whitman’s poem, Bromwich provides readers with a clearer understanding of the text.
‘“We Fathom You Not - We Love You”: Walt Whitman’s Social Ontology and Radical Democracy’ by Ryan Cull (2014)
Walt Whitman’s poem “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” serves as the focal point for Cull’s analysis. The poem was published in 1856 in the second edition of Leaves of Grass and was originally titled “Sun-Down Poem.” Cull shows how Whitman’s poem serves as “political practice” that strives to help readers “reconsider the affective, discursive, and conceptual foundations of American politics.” In doing so, Whitman aims to create a sense of political unity.
“Structuring the Matrix of Mourning: Walt Whitman’s Quaternity Tribute to Abraham Lincoln” by Brandon James O’Neil (2022)
O’Neil traces the construction of Whitman’s collection of poetry Drum-Taps which he composed during the Civil War. Sequel to Drum-Taps was written and later added on to Drum-Taps to commemorate the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, making the poetry collection complete. However, O’Neil’s focus is how these poetry collections create Whitman’s unique theology of a Quaternity with “Father, Son, Satan, and Santa Spirita,” with the latter “introducing femininity into the traditionally masculine triad.” O’Neil argues that this Quaternity provides personal as well as national healing from grief.
Listen to Poem
Richard Mitchley, an actor who has appeared in productions such as Doctor Who, Auf Wiedersehen, and Blackadder, reads the work of Walt Whitman.
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By Walt Whitman
