A Song of Myself ~ Vanity is cool Week 3

SONG OF MYSELF

                          1

 I CELEBRATE myself, and sing myself,

 And what I assume you shall assume,

 For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

 I loafe and invite my soul,

 I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

 My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil,

        this air,

 Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and

        their parents the same,

 I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,

 Hoping to cease not till death.

 Creeds and schools in abeyance,

 Retiring back a while sufficed at what they are, but never

        forgotten,

 I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,

 Nature without check with original energy.

                          2

 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,

 It is for my mouth forever, I am in love with it,

 I will go to the bank by the wood and become undisguised

         and naked,

 I am mad for it to be in contact with me.

Read full version:  Whitman, Walt. "A Song to Myself." Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/song-myself-i-ii-vi-lii

I thoroughly enjoyed reading his poem this week due to the nature of the egotistical self fulling style which undoubtedly people in the world have today.  Whitman celebrates himself with such charisma and without a doubt, it truly made me laugh at the arrogance of Whitman.  He sure had some brass ones when he wrote this. 

When reading about this “Song of Myself” controversy hovered over this writing due to the sexual nature and eroticism which was scandalous and did indeed leave Whitman with a “reputation”.  I found it ironic that over the years people and have not changed.  I for one am one that speaks my mind and deals with the consequences at a later date.  But I have to give it to Whitman when he wrote this song about himself because it truly show what a character he was at heart.

Like any good piece of art, A "Song of Myself" is an American classic, but one must have an open mind and see it through the authors eyes verses letting your own hang-up give way to closing the poem before you have finished it.  Exercise autonomy with an open mind when you read this work of art.  Interpretation is priceless and one must look at the various aspects of what they believe is meant, not what others tell you it means.   Have an open mind when looking at poetry which is considered outside of your comfort zone.

Enjoy   Julie 

All or Nothing ~ Give All to Love Week 2

One of my beliefs in life is that love no matter how short and simple it is can last you a life time.  In Emmerson’s “Give it all to Love” it exemplifies that there is no turning back the time and that one should love deeply as if there is no tomorrow.  One needs to follow the heart when it comes to that mind blowing and skin splitting feeling that consumes every sense of your being.  Without out love we, as human being are worthless, sad and lonely.  No riches in the world can make up for the loss of that special love.

Although we may feel at times that love is second, it really is second to none.  If you had to give up your house for love, could you do it and have the faith to believe that it will come back to you at some time down the road.   Will love have a second chance if one is to choose riches over the feelings of the heart.  Should you choose love, the immense feeling of blessings when you gain back whatever is lost is well worth the wait.

The first stanza of “Give All to Love” it sets the tone for the poem and clearly says that by giving up all you possess for whatever reason except don’t give up your love or that which is true to your own heart.  Every moment, basically rich or poor, are moments that cannot be rebuilt. A home, car, vacation, they can all be regained but those lost minutes of love are impossible to recoup.  Love is the most prized possession a human being can possess.

This poem further speaks to the courage it takes to follow your heart and give up processions and be without what you consider necessary but if you give up the heart/love your love will pull you through and you will not be heavy of heart.  When at times you feel that God has left your alone in reality all he has done is recreated your life and gave you a new direction without being completely alone.  This is what keeps you rich beyond your wildest dreams.  To have someone to share what things you possess if a far happier road than being alone and hurting from the sorrow of choosing possessions over love.

Give All to Love

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

Give all to love;

Obey thy heart;

Friends, kindred, days,

Estate, good-frame,

Plans, credit and the Muse,—

Nothing refuse.

’T is a brave master;

Let it have scope:

Follow it utterly,

Hope beyond hope:

High and more high

It dives into noon,

With wing unspent,

Untold intent:

But it is a god,

Knows its own path

And the outlets of the sky.

It was never for the mean;

It requireth courage stout.

Souls above doubt,

Valor unbending,

It will reward,—

They shall return

More than they were,

And ever ascending.

Leave all for love;

Yet, hear me, yet,

One word more thy heart behoved,

One pulse more of firm endeavor,—

Keep thee to-day,

To-morrow, forever,

Free as an Arab

Of thy beloved.

Cling with life to the maid;

But when the surprise,

First vague shadow of surmise

Flits across her bosom young,

Of a joy apart from thee,

Free be she, fancy-free;

Nor thou detain her vesture’s hem,

Nor the palest rose she flung

From her summer diadem.

Though thou loved her as thyself,

As a self of purer clay,

Though her parting dims the day,

Stealing grace from all alive;

Heartily know,

When half-gods go,   

The gods arrive.

McIntyre, John. "Give All to Love." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web.

When the Mind Explores ~ Week 1

Upon the Burning of our House

By:  Anne Bradstreet, 1612-1672

I

n silent night when rest I took, 

For sorrow neer I did not look, 

I waken'd was with thundring nois 

And Piteous shreiks of dreadfull voice. 

That fearfull sound of fire and fire, 

Let no man know is my Desire. 

I, starting up, the light did spye, 

And to my God my heart did cry 

To strengthen me in my Distresse 

And not to leave me succourlesse. 

Then coming out beheld a space, 

The flame consume my dwelling place.

And, when I could no longer look, 

I blest his Name that gave and took, 

That layd my goods now in the dust: 

Yea so it was, and so 'twas just. 

It was his own: it was not mine; 

Far be it that I should repine.

He might of All justly bereft, 

But yet sufficient for us left. 

When by the Ruines oft I past, 

My sorrowing eyes aside did cast, 

And here and there the places spye 

Where oft I sate, and long did lye.

Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest; 

There lay that store I counted best: 

My pleasant things in ashes lye, 

And them behold no more shall I. 

Under thy roof no guest shall sitt, 

Nor at thy Table eat a bitt.

No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told, 

Nor things recounted done of old. 

No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee, 

Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee. 

In silence ever shalt thou lye; 

Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.

Then streight I gin my heart to chide, 

And didst thy wealth on earth abide? 

Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust, 

The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? 

Raise up thy thoughts above the skye 

That dunghill mists away may flie.

Thou hast an house on high erect 

Fram'd by that mighty Architect, 

With glory richly furnished, 

Stands permanent tho' this bee fled. 

It's purchased, and paid for too 

By him who hath enough to doe.

A Prise so vast as is unknown, 

Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own. 

Ther's wealth enough, I need no more; 

Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store. 

The world no longer let me Love, 

My hope and Treasure lyes Above.

Although Anne Bradstreet wrote this poem back in the 1600’s, it truly sets the stage for changes in one’s life.  Not only does it speak to the complexity of losing every worldly item that one possesses but it also speaks to the loss of emotional attachments.  The psychological effect this type of catastrophe as upon an individual that loses everything is profound.

Looking and studying “Upon The Burning Of Our House” there are three very valuable lessons  which are evident in Bradstreet’s words.   The first thing is that Bradstreet thanks God while her house was burning.  Secondly, she stresses the point that she personally did not own the house and the items that were lost in the fire because they were actually God’s possessions, which exemplifies her faith on god and further shows that she is truly a Puritan and lives her faith.  Thirdly, she keeps reminiscing on what could have transpired that night with her family if they would not have awoken to flee the house.