For You O Democracy
by Water "Walt" Whitman
The Poem :
"Come, I will make the continent indissoluble,
I will make the most splendid race the sun ever yet shone upon,
I will make divine magnetic lands,
With the love of comrades,
With the life-long love of comrades.
I will plant companionship thick as trees along all the rivers of
America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies,
I will make inseparable cities, with their arms about each other's necks,
By the love of comrades,
By the manly love of comrades.
For you these from me, O Democracy, to serve you, ma femme!
For you, for you I an telling these songs."
Summary of the Poem :
In this poem, Walt Whitman expresses his idea of democracy. He has showed democracy not just as a political system but as a way of life. In this poem, he addresses his country America, but the companionship and oneness he writes about, apply worldwide.
The poet invokes his fellow citizens to come forward to make their continent indelible. The poet wishes to make his continent full with magnificent community which the world ever had. He will end up making his continent powerful and attractive with the life-long love and dedication of his fellow men.
The poet will sow the seed of friendship and make it grow. To make the readers out the matter, he cites the trees along all the rivers of America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies.
The poet wishes to make cities with utmost friendship and integrity by the courageous love of his country-men. The poet is nationalistic enough to serve his country and love his continent like his beloved lady. He is all singing or reciting this poem only for his Democracy.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
1. The speaker is an American here. What does he promise to do for America? Use the meanings of the three adjectives he uses in the first stanza to answer the question.
= In this poem, Walt Whitman expresses his idea of democracy. He has showed democracy not just as a political system but as a way of life. In this poem, he addresses his country America, but the companionship and oneness he writes about, apply worldwide.
The poet promises his fellow citizens to come forward to make their continent indelible. The poet promises to make his continent full with magnificent community which the world ever had. He promises to end up making his continent powerful and attractive with the life-long love and dedication of his fellow men.
2. Why does the speaker repeat a few lines in the poem? What, do you think, is the significance of those lines in the poem?
= The speaker repeats the following lines :
"With the love of comrades,
With the life-long love of comrades."
"By the love of comrades,
By the manly love of comrades."
I think the speaker repeats these lines in the poem to show that all his dream would be incomplete without the cooperation of the citizens of his continent. A continent can mould itself as a strong, powerful and integrated nation only by the love and dedication of its citizens.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, said, "Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people and by the people." It denotes that democracy is a system of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. The citizens of a continent is the most significant part of the Democracy of the same. Here in this poem, the poet is also indirectly reminds us above mentioned quote of Sir Abraham Lincoln. He also wishes to build his continent strong and distinctive following the guidance of Sir Abraham Lincoln.
3. Read these lines and answer the questions that follow.
a. "Come, I will make the continent indissoluble,"
i. To whom does the speaker say this?
= The speaker says this to his country men.
ii. What does the speaker promise?
= The poet promises his fellow citizens to come forward to make their continent indelible. The poet promises to make his continent full with magnificent community which the world ever had.
iii. Does the speaker want something in return from those he calls out to?
= The speaker wants the life-long love of those people who are his comrades.
b. "I will plant companionship thick as trees along all the rivers of America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies,
I will make inseparable cities, with their arms about each other's necks,"
i. What does he compare companionship to in the first line? Why does he make this comparison?
= He compares companionship to the trees along all the rivers of America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies.
He makes this comparison to make sure that the friendship and companionship grow like those of the trees along side those aforesaid rivers and lakes and grasslands.
ii. What is the meaning of the word 'prairies'?
= The word 'prairies' means the grasslands of North America.
iii. What does he compare cities to? How is this comparison achieved?
= He compares cities to friends.
Like as friends help and cooperate each other, they hold each other, hug each other; the cities also be cooperating each other like inseparable friends.
4. Describe the speaker's dream in your own words.
= In this poem, Walt Whitman expresses his idea of democracy. He has showed democracy not just as a political system but as a way of life. In this poem, he addresses his country America, but the companionship and oneness he writes about, apply worldwide.
The poet invokes his fellow citizens to come forward to make their continent indelible. The poet wishes to make his continent full with magnificent community which the world ever had. He will end up making his continent powerful and attractive with the life-long love and dedication of his fellow men.
The poet will sow the seed of friendship and make it grow. To make the readers out the matter, he cites the trees along all the rivers of America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies.
The poet wishes to make cities with utmost friendship and integrity by the courageous love of his country-men. The poet is nationalistic enough to serve his country and love his continent like his beloved lady. He is all singing or reciting this poem only for his Democracy.
5. Why does the speaker refer to democracy as 'ma femme'?
= The poet is nationalistic enough to serve his country and love his continent like his beloved lady. He is all singing or reciting this poem only for his Democracy. He is all set to make his beloved continent more strong and united with all his love and adore.
6. Justify the title of the poem with a brief analysis of the rest of the poem.
= In this poem, Walt Whitman expresses his idea of democracy. He has showed democracy not just as a political system but as a way of life. In this poem, he addresses his country America, but the companionship and oneness he writes about, apply worldwide.
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States, said, "Democracy is a rule of the people, for the people and by the people." It denotes that democracy is a system of government in which the rulers are elected by the people. The citizens of a continent is the most significant part of the Democracy of the same. Here in this poem, the poet is also indirectly reminds us above mentioned quote of Sir Abraham Lincoln. He also wishes to build his continent strong and distinctive following the guidance of Sir Abraham Lincoln.
The poet is nationalistic enough to serve his country and love his continent like his beloved lady. He is all singing or reciting this poem only for his Democracy.
The title 'For You O Democracy' is apt enough to justify the theme of the poem i.e. Democracy.
About the Poet :
Walter "Walt" Whitman (1819 - 1892) is perhaps the greatest American poet of all times. He was also an essayist and philosopher. His most significant poetic volume is Leaves of Grass, a volume that is noted for its poetic power and expression of human feelings.