"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.
...
6
A child said What is the grass? fetching it to me with full hands;
How could I answer the child? I do not know what it is any more than he.
I guess it must be the flag of my disposition, out of hopeful green stuff woven.
Or I guess it is the handkerchief of the Lord,
A scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropt,
Bearing the owner’s name someway in the corners, that we may see and remark, and say Whose?
Or I guess the grass is itself a child, the produced babe of the vegetation.
Or I guess it is a uniform hieroglyphic,
And it means, Sprouting alike in broad zones and narrow zones,
Growing among black folks as among white,
Kanuck, Tuckahoe, Congressman, Cuff, I give them the same, I receive them the same.
And now it seems to me the beautiful uncut hair of graves.
Tenderly will I use you curling grass,
It may be you transpire from the breasts of young men,
It may be if I had known them I would have loved them,
It may be you are from old people, or from offspring taken soon out of their mothers’ laps,
And here you are the mothers’ laps.
This grass is very dark to be from the white heads of old mothers,
Darker than the colorless beards of old men,
Dark to come from under the faint red roofs of mouths.
O I perceive after all so many uttering tongues,
And I perceive they do not come from the roofs of mouths for nothing.
I wish I could translate the hints about the dead young men and women,
And the hints about old men and mothers, and the offspring taken soon out of their laps.
What do you think has become of the young and old men?
And what do you think has become of the women and children?
They are alive and well somewhere,
The smallest sprout shows there is really no death,
And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it,
And ceas’d the moment life appear’d.
All goes onward and outward, nothing collapses,
And to die is different from what any one supposed, and luckier.
31
I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars,
...
32
I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain’d,
I stand and look at them long and long.
They do not sweat and whine about their condition,
They do not lie awake in the dark and weep for their sins,
They do not make me sick discussing their duty to God,
Not one is dissatisfied, not one is demented with the mania of owning things,
Not one kneels to another, nor to his kind that lived thousands of years ago,
Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth.
...
35
Would you hear of an old-time sea-fight?
...
Toward twelve there in the beams of the moon they surrender to us.
...
38
...
Eleves, I salute you! come forward!
Continue your annotations, continue your questionings.
52
The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab and my loitering.
I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,
I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world."
- Walt Whitman This poem seems to be like a type of biography. The poet tells us about himself, his opinions, and so on, which is why it's so biography-like. The first verse is him telling us that he's going to be talking about himself. The second part with the grass, I think is his view on equality. I think he's saying that everyone is equal, through using the grass as a metaphor. The next part seems to be about what bothers him in men. He wishes he could be an animal because animals don't do or have certain qualities that make men so despicable. They don't whine, they don't regret things, they don't dwell on religion, they are not corrupt, they do not have a ruler, and they are all happy. Next, he talks about how he can answer the questions of others who are beneath him; he is a teacher of some sort. Last, he says that he is not confined by rules, he will be bold and show the world.
The last bit was a big part in the movie, probably because it was (in a way) how the boys took "carpe diem". To be bold and to be yourself was a big part of the movie, especially with Knox, Neil, and Todd. In the end, they all sounded their barbaric yawps in their own ways.
". . . . . . . . . . . . . Come, my friends.
'Tis not too late to seek a newer world
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are -
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
- From Ulysses by Alfred Lord Tennyson
This quote is a message being sent out by the poet. It says that although we might have lost our strength physically, our strength in will has not diminished. We can change things. We have the power to be something and do something greater. I think that this poem kind of relates to Neil during the movie, especially with his ambitions of being an actor. Neil went on with acting even though his father forbade it. And in the end, he committed suicide because he'd rather die than to live his father's way. I guess that's a way of interpreting the poem at hand. He's strong enough to move mountains through will, and even when he can't, he does.
"I went to the woods because I wanted to live deliberately, I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, To put to rout all that was not life and not when I had come to die Discover that I had not lived."
- Thoreau I think that this quote is similar to "I go to seek a Great Perhaps" said by Francois Rabelais. They're both talking about going elsewhere to really live their lives. It also relates to the Keating quote from the post before this one. They relate in the way that they both mean that they can't truly be themselves and be happy unless they're somewhere else. Keating goes to dreams, Thoreau goes to the woods. "to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life" I interpret as to mean that he wants to live his life to the fullest. "To put to rout that was not life and not when I had to come to die Discover that I had not lived" this means to me that Thoreau was a bit afraid (if I could call it a fear) of coming to his death and realizing that he had not lived in the way that he could have really lived. This quote also has a bit of a "carpe diem" theme going on, which is why I think it was very appropriate for The Dead Poet's Society.
"But only in our dreams can men be truly free It was always thus and always thus will be."
- Keating I adore this quote. I believe that the Tennyson quote (from the post before) is true, but so is this one. Keating is saying that we can't really be ourselves and do what we would like to do unless we're in a dream or a fantasy. I agree. The pressures of pleasing society and our peers often seem to restrict our freedom. How many people do you know that threw away their dreams because it was deemed "impossible" or "unpractical" or "not enough money in it"? But within a dream, you could do what you wanted and enjoy and be yourself. How many people do you know that are completely themselves when they're with others? It's hard to find people who are free in who they are and what they want and so on.
"Most men live lives of quiet desperation."
- Thoreau I think that this poem is an observation of a sort. I believe that Thoreau means that people tend to live in their own box of sheltered sadness, in that they never followed their dreams, they never achieved their goals, and etc. That they are enclosed in Society's set rules, and don't try to break free. I like how it mentions "most" because it's not all people who live like that. Some people really do live. I get an image of a business man, walking to work in the morning, glancing at his watch to make sure he's not late. He looks unhappy. Next to him is another man, an old man with white hair and crinkles around the eyes. But they're "happy lines". He smiles because he's happy so often because he's done with his life what he's wanted to do, and not what others have told him to do.
"Teach me to Love? go teach thy self more wit;
I am chief Professor of it.
Teach craft to Scots, and thrift to Jews,
Teach boldness to the Stews;
In tyrants courts teach supple flattery,
Teach Jesuits, that have traveled far, to Lye.
Teach fire to burn and Winds to blow.
Teach restless Fountains how to flow,
Teach the dull earth, fixt, to abide,
Teach Woman-kind inconstancy and Pride.
See if your diligence here will useful prove;
But, pr’ithee, teach not me to love.
The God of Love, if such a thing there be,
May learn to love from me,
He who does boast that he has bin,
In every Heart since Adams sin,
I’ll lay my Life, nay Mistress on’t, that’s more;
I’ll teach him things he never knew before;
I’ll teach him a receipt to make
Words that weep, and Tears that speak,
I’ll teach him Sighs, like those in death,
At which the Souls go out too with the breath;
Still the Soul stays, yet still does from me run;
As Light and Heat does with the Sun.
‘Tis I who Love’s Columbus am; ’tis I, Who must new Worlds in it descry;
Rich Worlds, that yield of Treasure more,
than that has been known before,
And yet like his (I fear) my fate must be,
To find them out for others; not for Me.
Me Times to come, I know it, shall
Loves last and greatest prophet call.
But, ah, what’s that, if she refuse,
To hear the whole doctrines of my Muse?
If to my share the Prophets fate must come;
Hereafter fame, here Martyrdome."
- Abraham Cowley I think that this poem is a bit funny in the way that the poet is so stubborn on the thought that he is the expert at love. He says "Teach me to love? go teach thyself more wit" which basically means "Teach me to love? teach yourself to be smarter first". He then proceeds to tell the other person in the poem to go teach other people other things, but you can't teach me to love. He is the master of love, if there was a god of love, he would be teaching that god. He'd teach him everything about love. It's him who is great and amazing, but he's also the one that must find love for others. I think that this poem is very complex towards its ending. It bends and twists the poem into a new direction almost, but it's like a plot twist that I can appreciate. I think that this poem suits The Dead Poet's Society in that it's kind of like Charlie's whole character. He's a bit cocky and rash and is the one with all the girls, but it seems like he would rather help Knox with Chris than the really fall in love with another girl himself.
"Show me the heart unfettered by foolish dreams And I'll show you a happy man."
- Tennyson I believe that this means that Tennyson would rather be a someone who has realistic goals and dreams that he can and will reach over a dreamer. He thinks that a happy man is a realist who accomplishes his goals, and to be honest, I don't disagree. However, I think some of the fun in life would be taken away if we weren't to fantasize and dream. As long as we keep sight of the truth and reality, I think that dreaming good dreams isn't a bad thing at all. The way I see it though, is that a person who is truly happy would have achieved honest and true goals of theirs, but also dreams of pure dreams.
"Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse."
-Walt Whitman To me, this poem is the way the poet interprets the meaning of life. The poet sees life viewed as a depressing and foolish thing, but he thinks that every one person has a role and a "verse" that they can put into this world. It's a struggle to live, and it's easy to see the people who live with no faith. The author is in the same mindset, but the thing he has is hope.
I really like this poem. It's kind of how me (at this point) on my view of the world. Obviously it can't be proved true or false, but it's nice for me to know that there's a famous and smart person who shares the same ideals as I do.
"GATHER ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old time is still a-flying :
And this same flower that smiles to-day
To-morrow will be dying.
The glorious lamp of heaven, the sun,
The higher he's a-getting,
The sooner will his race be run,
And nearer he's to setting.
That age is best which is the first,
When youth and blood are warmer ;
But being spent, the worse, and worst
Times still succeed the former.
Then be not coy, but use your time,
And while ye may go marry :
For having lost but once your prime
You may for ever tarry."
- Robert Herrik The first thought I had when I read this poem was "hashtag yolo". Then it skipped to "No wait, carpe diem." The poem means that because life and youth fades, we should live life to it's fullest. Because time goes by fast, the poet is telling us to take our time to embrace life and use the short time we have wisely.
I really like the second verse, where the poet compares the sun to the passing of a person's life. "The glorious lamp of heaven" just really does it for me. It's the perfect way to describe the sun, but also the perfect euphemism for the subject at hand. I believe that it represents the finests of people, who rise up high. After they rise up and succeed though, they are bound to fall. Maybe not fall terribly and sadly, but gracefully and meaningfully like the sunset. Even though the great people succeed, their time runs out too.
The last verse of the poem is basically an elongated and eloquent "carpe diem". It means that we ought not be wasters of our time in life, and that while we still have the ability to use our youth, we should live our lives.
"I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things in a different way. You see, the world looks very different from up here... Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in another way. Even though it may seem silly or wrong, you must try! Now, when you read, don't just consider what the author thinks. Consider what you think."
This quote reminds me of Harry Potter (and I know that sounds cliche). It reminds me of Lavender Brown and the Malfoys. At first, I hated them. As I grew, I read the series again, and watched the movies again, and started to grow fonder of them, because I saw them in a different light. In a new perspective. Lavender had gone from an annoying, barely-a-gryffindor, clingy girl, to a strong, relatable, and sympathetic character. The Malfoys (especially Narcissa and Draco) had gone from a snobby, blood-status-loving, rude and evil family, to one that won my pity and care. Their motives and actions were understandable and almost acceptable because I was able to see them in a different way. I think that's what Mr.Keating meant. That that's why we have to change our perspectives. We have to think for ourselves and even though it looks weird or silly, we have to constantly look at things in a different way than the way we were told to. Mr.Keating's not saying to throw away all the rules; he's saying that we have to broaden our minds to truly understand.
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