We had a fantastic conversation at book club last night. Everyone was fired up over Song of Myself by Walt Whitman. It’s such a powerful poem, and the ending is truly astounding. For me, it perfectly captures what it feels like to read a piece of literature deeply.
I’m going to share a few stanzas from the end of the poem for you to reflect on. Here we go:
“I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable, I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.”
You might recognize this from the movie Dead Poets Society, one of my favorites! The idea here is that life is too short to be passive. Let’s live with a richness that is uniquely our own. Let’s sound our barbaric yawps and be heard! Let’s not go quietly into the night (pardon my Dylan Thomas reference—he’s another great poet you should check out!).
Whitman continues:
“I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love, If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles.”
Throughout this poem, Whitman refers to the leaves of grass, symbolic of so many things, including individuality and being part of a greater whole. And then, here’s the best part, he ends with a call to action for all of us who want to read deeply. Are you ready for it?
“Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged, Missing me one place search another, I stop somewhere waiting for you.”
And those are the final words of this great poem. Sometimes, when we spend time with authors like Whitman, we might not fully grasp the weight of their words. They may be lost on us, but that’s okay. Keep searching, swimming boldly with them, walking through forests with their thoughts on your mind. In time, if you read slowly, take notes, and apply the ideas—you will find them.
Until tomorrow, read slowly – take notes – apply the ideas.
-Your bookish friend, Eddy.
