As I was reading the poem “Song of Myself” two things came to my mind: the importance of having an identity and the appreciation about nature and the universe. Having an identity in the meaning being unique and loving every part of yourself. And, appreciation about nature and the universe because part of who I am is because of the way nature and the universe function. Each part of nature and the universe is connected to each other and plays an equally important role to bring together the pieces and create the journey which we call life.

Our understanding of life is achieved when we will have understood ourselves first. I believe this is what the author Walt Whitman was trying to transmit to the reader besides appreciation for nature and the universe. When he says “untranslatable self” he means the one and only you, the unique you, the confident you. He believes that everybody is different and there is no other one like you. Whitman in this poem wants us to appreciate the fact that we are given a life by nature, a chance to exist. He’s saying that nature made us unique and we should love ourselves for who we are and we should believe in our potential. When he says “untranslatable self” it also means that we have only one chance to live this life and make good use of it.

“Untranslatable self” is a line which gives meaning and better understanding to the whole poem because it focuses on the concept of identity and the importance of getting to know ourselves in order to have a better understanding of the world and life. If we accept ourselves for who we are and how we are then the process of understanding ourselves will be easier and once we learn more about what is happening within us we can comprehend better the world and universe.