Song of Myself by Walt Whitman is full of meaningful symbolism. In the third line, “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” shows that we are all the same. We are all the universe and the universe is us. “The smoke of my own breath, Echoes, ripples, and buzzed whispers…. love root, silkthread, crotch and vine, My respiration and inspiration…. the beating of my heart…. the passing of blood and air through my lungs…” this line is absolutely beautiful. This line tells me that Walt Whitman was very self-aware of his life, noted everything as-is and tried to find the meaning behind it. Democracy is symbolized throughout the use of grass as a means to show that grass grows everywhere, just like democracy should and does in the Untied States. What better freedom, unless its idealistic, is better than the grassroots foundation of democracy? “And to it seems to me the beautiful uncut hair of graves…” this line is interesting. There could potentially be a lot of meaning behind this. For example, graves and democracy? What if he’s talking about how people, men and women, who have fought for democracy have only ended up dead but gave up their lives for the betterment of everyone else? Either that or he could be speaking about how no matter what we do, no matter what ever happens, we’re all going to meet the exact same fate. Nevertheless, he’s very insightful and really shows how connected humanity can be.

Carlos M.