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Question: Help on walt whitman "song for myself"!?
this is a stanza from walt whitman's song for myself
tell me the meter, ryhme, diction, style, tona and message for this stanza:
The past and present wilt--I have fill'd them, emptied them!.
And proceed to fill my next fold of the future!.
Listener up there! what have you to confide to me!?
Look in my face while I snuff the sidle of evening,
(Talk honestly, no one else hears you, and I stay only a minute longer!.)
Do I contradict myself!?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes!.)
I concentrate toward them that are nigh, I wait on the door-slab!.
Who has done his day's work!? who will soonest be through with his supper!?
Who wishes to walk with me!?
Will you speak before I am gone!? will you prove already too late!?
ty!
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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
This is the final stanza of a very long poem titled "Song of (not for) Myself!." It has no rhyme scheme and its cadences are those of ordinary speech!. The tone is that of a bold, extroverted personality which speaks to all and demands answers!. It speaks to the divinity ("Listener up there!") as well as to fellow mortals and is all inclusive and friendly!. It makes no apology for what may be considered shortcomings in others ("Do I contradict myself!?") and it speaks from a feeling of being a part of all humanity ("I am large, I contain multitudes!.")
I think what this stanza and the whole poem are about is the attempt to portray the collective spirit of humans, particularly Americans, with their freedom, friendliness and sense of large enterprise!. It is interesting, I think, to ask if present day America is the same place Whitman saw it as!. !.Www@QuestionHome@Com
To begin with at least get the title right!. Try going back to read it again, if even only for a first time!. Who told you it rhymed or had to!? Whitman was a poet of the common man!. There is internal rhyme and alliteration!. The diction is confrontational and conversational!. Whitman had been through the Civil War, and seen what it did to his fellow man!. He loved other men, and therein lay his faith!. Welcome to free verse, without metre or rhyme scheme!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Great piece of writing!.!.!.the two before me answered it perfectly, i just want to add!.!.!.!.aaaah free verse, love it!.Www@QuestionHome@Com