Song of Myself

Song of Myself

In the “Song of Myself” by Walter Whitman there is no rhyme scheme or rhythm throughout the entire poem. This was done purposely because Whitman is trying to make his poem like life itself. This poem is just like life because nothing is guaranteed. Life has no rhyme or rhythm, which is why Whitman uses free verse. In order to make his poem flow, Whitman uses repetition of key words in order to get his point across. An example of repetition is in the first two lines where it says, “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, /And what I assume you shall assume.” There is no rhythm between these lines but Whitman uses repetition of the words myself and assume to make the poem flow. Not only does repetition create flow throughout the poem but it also supports the points that Whitman is trying to make. It supports Whitman’s ideas because repetition is just like the cycle of life. In this poem, Whitman is trying to say that humans are made from past things that have died out and that atoms have been recycled to create yourself. These atoms have been recycled and repeatedly used to create life, which supports the use of repetition in this poem. I also believe that Whitman displays imagery through his poems because life is visually appealing.

            Later on in Whitman’s poem, he begins to talk about the Alamo and the tragedies that happened during that war. I think that Whitman talks about war in his poem because bad things happen in life no matter what, and war is a specific example. However, Whitman believed that tragedy is a beautiful thing and that death needs to happen in order to ensure life. Lastly, Whitman supports pantheism and that god is everything. I am god, you are god, and everything is god. This is why death isn’t a tragedy to Whitman because he thinks that god is everything. If one part of god dies, then he is still here in everything else.