![]() ![]() He pursued, but even Walt needed a declaration to steady his nerves and unleash his limitless sense of adventure. Walt was a daring and voracious traveler he was a connoisseur of people he stretched his days so they would contain more encounters and experiences. The extended metaphor of a car ride works in this case. Ensuing sections will screech down “the open road” at blazing speeds. They represent unlocking the car, buckling the seat belt, checking the mirrors, turning the key in the ignition, tuning the radio station, and shifting into reverse to ease from a parking space. ![]() The first four sections of Song Of The Open Road are chained to the journey’s expectations and preparations. While some poems reflect on the past, this poem-like so many of Whitman’s masterpieces-takes the immediate present as a launching point for a momentous and well-lived future. Yes, it was Walt who coined the phrase “we convince by our presence.” In fact, that phrase first appeared in a later section of Song Of The Open Road.) (Notice the use of “presence.” And now the blog comes full circle. Does repainting the Mona Lisa allow you to bond with Da Vinci? Does sitting at a piano and playing Moonlight Sonata commence a meeting with Beethoven? I’m not sure, but I know that in typing this fifth section of Song Of The Open Road I felt Walt Whitman joining me. I’m not sure what to compare this to it is surreal and just might be native to poetry. This could all be wishful thinking on my part, but there is a transfer of ownership in the process of copying these poems. By the time I’ve reached the ends of most of these poems I’ve felt the words clinging to me like a child to a parent’s leg on the first day of preschool. Typing their words, I feel a debt of gratitude accruing inside of me, but I also notice the words breaking free and becoming my own. I can’t help but record these courageous poems and not spark a little something beautiful and tidy inside myself. The act of typing these great poets’ poems has the same impact as sticking my finger into a light socket, minus the burns and serious injuries. Whoever accepts me he or she shall be blessed and shall bless me.Īs I’ve compiled the poems and essays for this blog, I’ve treated myself to the task of retyping some of my favorite poems into Microsoft Word files, which I’ve saved into a folder titled FAVORITE POEMS. Whoever denies me it shall not trouble me, I will toss a new gladness and roughness among them, I will scatter myself among men and women as I go, I will recruit for myself and you as I go, I can repeat over to men and women You have done such good to me The east and the west are mine, and the north and Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating, Listening to others, considering well what they say, Going where I list, my own master total and absolute, From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines, ![]()
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