Song of Myself

Famous poet, Walter Whitman wrote a poem called, “Song of Myself,” that features many different aspects that relate to the cycle of life. The cycle of life strongly is influenced in the way Walter Whitman writes because when he writes his poetry he will repeat words or phrases over and over again to symbolize that life goes in a circle. An example in his poetry where he uses repeated words or phrases is when he writes, “For me those that have been…For me the man that…For me the sweet-heart…For me lips that have smiled…For me children.”(P.69-70. 140-146) Walter Whitman does not incorporate many examples of rhyme the way he writes poetry and especially in the poem, “Song of Myself.” When Walter wrote “Song by myself,” he included many questions about life and symbols and then he would answer his questions by exclaiming them in the next few lines. Walter plays this question and answer game with himself when he writes his poetry. The mood and tone of the poem staggers from light to dark. When he talks in a dark mood I think that he is hinting more towards death. When he is talking in a more lighter tone I think he is talking about life and being born. Walter Whitman’s message in his poem is too not take for granted the life that one is living. There is a lot of surrounding distractions and many people go through life and ignore the surrounding noise but Walter Whitman is trying to get the reader to understand that that person should embrace the surrounded noise and enjoy the privilege of life.