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THE
HIGH
SCHOOL
POEMS OF PATRIOTISM AND THE LESSONS THEY TEACH V. THOU MOTHER WITH THY EQUAL BROOD ÂŤy WALT WHITMAN
THE AUTHOR AND HIS WORK
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in the faiththat tiallythe greatestpoem." He was confident his country'sgloryis to be spiritualand heroic. He is indeed our poetof democracy;and as such,we muststudyhim. He has sketchedwitha bold hand- and withsupremeconfidence - her possibilitiesand her prospecin his country'sgreatness tive achievements in science,art,literature, industry, morality, government;and he looked upon themall as the logical outcome of the ideals on whichour government is based.
Walt Whitmanwas born at West Hills, Long Island, in 1819. He was educatedin thepublicschoolsof Brooklynand A STUDY 01 THE POEM New York. He had a veryvaried career. At one time and another he was apprenticedto a doctor,a lawyer,and a The title that the author originallygave this poem was, printer. He taughtschool for a while; was a carpenterand "As a StrongBird on Pinions Free." He later changedthe builder; began early to write articles for the newspapers; title to "Thou Mother with Thy Equal Brood." In your took an active part in politicsand achievedlocal fame as a judgmentdoes this titlefitthe poem better? Why? exercisesof politicalspeaker. In 1846he becameeditorof the Brooklyn The poem was writtenfor the commencement Eagle. He made long long walkingtours (1847-1848) over DartmouthCollege in 1872. Do you thinkit would have been the UnitedStates and into Canada. While servingas a Fed- as appropriatein 1862? In 1892? In 1919? Why? If the eral soldierin the Civil War he contractedmalarial fever poet were livingtoday,do you thinkhe mightadd anything his healthfor life. He was given a po- to it that would improveit? Do you suppose thereare any whichundermined sitionin the InteriorDepartmentat Washingtonfromwhich lines in it he would want to leave out? he was laterdismissedbecause of his "Leaves of Grass." He What are some of the "storms"our Nation has encountwas an ardentadvocateof the Free Soil Party,and some of ered since the poem was written ? What are someof the pohis sentiments and opinionswereobjectionableto thepartyin litical,social and spiritual"diseases" with whichthis Nation since 1872? How has our national power. Later he was given a clerkshipin the TreasuryDe- has since been afflicted whichhe was obligedto give up in 1874on account life been affectedby thesestorms? Diseases? On the whole, partment of paralysis. He then moved to Camden,N. J., where his would you say the poet's faith in democracyas a formof brotherGeorgelived. Here he lived untilhis death in 1892. governmenthas been justifiedby the way the Nation has Whitmanpublishedhis firstvolume,"Leaves of Grass," in weatheredthe stormsit has encounteredsince 1872? By the 1855. The firsteditionmade a verysmallbook; in succeeding mannerit has combattedthe diseases that have afflicted it? editionsotherpoems were added untilit was expanded into Do you thinkthe Union has been strengthened or weakened a large volume. At firstWhitmanwas accused of indecency by them? How? for speakingso plainlyabout some subjects and immorality What are some of the Nation's significantachievements that were not regardedas properfor publicdiscussion. His since 1872in scienceand invention?Art? Literature?Would book was placed underban in Massachusettsin 1881. Whit- you say the poet's prophecyhas foundreasonablefulfillment man was so original and so independentin his habits of up to this time? Do you suppose there are as great, or tasks stillahead of us ? Scan the world's thoughtand in his writingsthat he utterlydisregardedthe greater,constructive conventionallaws of rhymeand feet and wrote in rhyth- horizontoday and say whetheror not thereare in prospect matic sentencesof varyinglength. This very fact, coupled other"storms"brewing? Is yourfaithin the Nation'sability with the accusationof immorality that was broughtagainst safelyto weatherthemas greatas the poet's? Do you think - in our government - has helpedus to for him to get a fair hear- our faithin ourselves him,made it exceedinglydifficult ing beforethe public. (Many still regard him as a freak.) weatherthestormsin the past? Will this faithbe a necessary But when Emersonchallengedhis cause as an originaland qualityof our citizenshipin the future? Look now fora momentmorecloselyat our nationalissues giftedthinkerand writer,his popularitybegan to increase, untiltodayhe is regardedby literarymenas perhapsthe most and say whetheror not there are "diseases" of a political, originalgenius among Americanmen of letters. He wrote social, spiritual,or political (not partisan) kind that still manyothervolumesin additionto the one here mentioned. afflictus? What are they? What is the citizen'spart in For a list of his writingsand for a more extendedshort helpingthe Nation to combat them? Will the citizens of sketchof the author,the reader is referredto an excellent tomorrowhave as great opportunities, do you suppose,to article in the "InternationalEncyclopedia" which can be promotethe Nation'swelfareas thoseof yesterdayhad? Do foundin the librariesof mostof our best high schools. as you suppose they will measure up to their opportunities It should be added, that Whitman is not the kind of successfully and as heroicallyas did thecitizensof yesterday? - can writerthat high school pupils will at firstappreciate. But Did the poet have any doubt on this point? Will they - measureup to the opportunities of the futureif they pupil who will studythe poem here repro- they any thoughtful duced until its deeper meaningdawns upon him, until he lack faithin our formof government?Faith in themselves? feels himselfcaught in the magnificent In what ways can the educationof citizenscontributeto sweep of the poet's vision,will have his sense of patriotismquickenedand his the Nation's greatnessand prosperity?Does the poem sugenthusiasmfor his countryaroused to a higherpitch and gest an answer? Can Americanachievmentof the futurebe elevatedto saner level. as great if the boys and girls of todayare not educated,not It does not matternow thatthe authorpossessed such in- trained,when they take their places in the busy world of tense individualism, was so wilfullyerratic and unconven- tomorrow? Lookingat the poem in this light,does it have a tional, since he has given us what is perhaps the greatest greatermeaningfor you personally? Do you thinkthat if - to be foundin the whole any child in Americatoday does not have an opportunity - of democracy to poem of patriotism realmof Americanliterature. In his prefaceto "Leaves of develophis talentsto their fullest,the community in which Grass" he said: "These United States themselvesare essen- he makeshis home- the State- the Nation- will,in the meas-
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ure thathe fails,sufferbecause of it? Would you say, then, that it is the patrioticduty of everycommunityand every State to -giveits boys and girlsan opportunity throughtraining to "burgeonout" all thereis withinthem? Would you say it is the patrioticdutyof everyboy and girl in America to fitthemselvesthrougheducationfor the largestpossible patrioticservice?- N. W. W.
JOURNAL
Out of thyself, comprisingscience,to recastpoems,churches, art (Recast, maybe discard them,and them-maybetheir work is done,who knows?), By vision,hand,conception,on thebackgroundof the mighty past,the dead, To him withabsolutefaiththe mightylivingpresent.
THOU MOTHER WITH THY EQUAL BROOD* And yet thou livingpresentbrain,heir of the dead, the Old World brain, Thou Mother with thy equal brood, Thou varied chain of different States,yet one identityonly, Thou that lay foldedlike an unbornbabe withinits folds so long, A special song before I go I'd sing o'er all the rest, Thou carefullypreparedby it so long- haplythou but unFor thee,the future. foldestit, only maturestit, I'd sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality, It to eventuatein thee- the essence of the bygone time I'd fashionthyensembleincludingbodyand soul, contain'din thee, I'd show away ahead thy real Union, and how it may be Its poems, churches,arts, unwittingto themselves,destined accomplish'd. with referenceto thee; Thou but the apples,long,long,long a-growing, The paths to the house I seek to make, The fruitof all the Old ripeningtodayin thee. But leave to those to come the house itself. Belief I sing,and preparation; As Life and Nature are not greatwithreferenceto the present only, But greaterstill fromwhat is yetto come, Out of that formulafor thee I sing.
4 of Sail, sail thybest,ship Democracy, 'tis not the Presentonly, Of value is thyfreight, The Past is also storedin thee, Thou holdest not the ventureof thyselfalone, not of the Westerncontinentalone, 2 Earth's resumeentirefloatson thykeel O ship,is steadied As a strongbird on pinionsfree, by thy spars, Joyous,the amplestspaces heavenwardcleaving, With thee Time voyagesin trust,the antecedentnationssink Such be the thoughtI'd thinkof thee America, or swim withthee, Such be the recitativeI'd bringfor thee. With all theirancientstruggles,martyrs, heroes,epics,wars, thou bear'st the othercontinents, The conceitsof the poetsof otherlands I'd bringthee not, - port triumTheirs,theirsas muchas thine,the destination Nor the compliments that have servedtheirturnso long, phant; Nor rhymne,nor the classics,not perfumeof foreigncourt Steer thenwithgood stronghand and waryeye O helmsman, or indoor library; thou carriestgreat companions, But an odour I'd bringas fromforestsof pine in Maine, or VenerablepriestlyAsia sails this day withthee, breathof an Illinois prairie, Withopen airs of Virginiaor Georgiaor Tennessee,or from And royal feudalEurope sails withthee. Beautifulworldof new superberbirththatrises to myeyes, Texas uplands,or Florida's glades, Or the Saguenay'sblack stream,or the wide blue spread of Like a limitlessgoldencloud fillingthe westernsky, Emblemof general maternity liftedabove all, Huron, Sacred shape of the bearerof daughtersand sons, With presentment of Yellowstone'sscenes,or Yosemite, And murmuring under,pervadingall, I'd bringthe rustling Out of thyteemingwomb thygiant babes in ceaseless procession issuing, sea-sound, That endlesslysounds fromthe two GreatSeas of the world. Acceding from such gestation,taking and giving continual strengthand life, And for thysubtlersense subtlerrefrainsdread Mother, World of the real- world of the twainin one, Preludes of intellecttallyingthese and thee,mind-formulas World of the soul,bornby the worldof the real alone,led to fittedfor thee,real and sane and large as theseand thee, identity,body,by it alone, Thou ! mounting, higher,diviningdeeperthan we knew,thou Yet in beginningonly,incalculablemasses of compositeprectranscendentalUnion! ious materials, By thee factbe justified,blendedwiththought, By history'scycles forwarded,by every nation, language, Thoughtof man justified,blendedwithGod, hithersent, Thoughtthyidea, lo, the immortalreality! Ready,collectedhere,a freer,vast,electricworld,to be conThroughthyreality,lo, the immortalidea! structedhere The trueNew World,the worldof orbic science,morals,lit3 eraturesto come), Brain of the New World,what a task is thine, Thou wonderworldyetundefined, neitherdo I deunform'd, To formulatethe Modern- out of the peerlessgrandeurof finethee, the modern, How can I piercethe impenetrable blank of the future? I feel thyomniousgreatnessevil as well as good, from "The Patriotic ♌Reproduced Poems of Walt Whitman" ($1.25 net). Publishedby Doubleday, Page & Com- I watch thee advancing,absorbingthe present,transcending Garden New the past, York. pany, City,
THE HIGH SCHOOL JOURNAL I see thylightlighting,and thyshadow shadowing,as if the entireglobe, But I do not undertaketo definethee,hardlyto comprehend thee, as now, I but theename,thee prophesy, I merelythee ejaculate! Thee in thy future, Thee in thyonlypermanentlife,career,thyown unloosened mind,thy soaring spirit, Thee as anotherequally needed sun, radiant,ablaze, swiftall, moving,fructifying Thee risen in potentcheerfulnessand joy, in endless great hilarity, Scatteringforgood the cloud thathungso long,thatweigh'd so long upon the mind of man, The doubt,suspicion,dread,of gradual,certaindecadenceof man; Thee in thylarger,sanerbrood of female,male- thee in thy athletes,moral,spiritual,South, North,West, East, breasts,Motherof All, thyeverydaughter, (To thyimmortal son, endear'dalike, foreverequal), Thee in thyown musicians,singers,artists,unbornyet,but certain, Thee in thymoral wealth and civilization(until which thy proudestmaterialcivilizationmust remainin vain), - thee in no Thee in thy all-supplying, all-enclosingworship singlebible,Savior, merely, Thy Saviours countless,latentwithinthyself,thy bibles incessantwithinthyself,equal to any,divineas any not in thytwo great (Thy soaringcourse thee formulating, wars,nor in thycentury'svisiblegrowth But far more in these leaves and chants,thy chants,great Mother!), Thee in an educationgrown of thee, in teachers,studies, students,born of thee, Thee in thydemocraticfetesen-masse,thyhighoriginalfestivals,operas, lecturers,preachers, Thee in thy ultimata(the preparationonly now completed, the edificeon sure foundationstied), Thee in thypinnacles,intellect,thought,thytopmostrational joys, thylove and godlikeaspiration, In thy resplendentcoming literati,thy full-lung'dorators, thy sacerdotalbards, kosmic savans, These! these in thee (certainto come), to-dayI prophesy. 6 Land toleratingall, acceptingall, not for the good alone, all good for thee, Land in the realmsof God to be a realmunto thyself, Underthe ruleof God to be a rule untothyself. (Lo, where arise threepeerlessstars, To be thynatal starsmycountry, Ensemble,Evolution,Freedom, Set in the sky of Law).
JU
The stormshall dash thy face, the murkof war and worse than war shall cover thee all over (Wert capable of war, its tugs and trials? be capable of peace, its trials, For the tug and mortalstrainof nationscome at last in prosperous peace, not war) ; In manya smilingmask death shall approachbeguilingthee, thou in disease shall swelter, The livid cancer spread its hideous claws, clingingupon thy breasts,seekingto strikethee deep within, Consumptionof the worst,moral consumption,shall rouge thyface withhectic, Put thou shalt face thyfortunes,thydiseases,and surmount themail, Whateverthey are to-day and whateverthroughtime they may be, They each and all shall lift and pass away and cease from thee, While thou,Time's spirals rounding,out of thyself,thyself still extricating,fusing, Equable, natural,mysicalUnion thou (the mortalwith immortalblent), of the future,the spiritof Shalt soar toward the fulfilment the bodyand the mind, The soul, its destinies. The soul, its destinies,the real real (Purportof all theseapparitionsof the real) ; In thee America,the soul, its destinies, Thou globe of globes! thou wondernebulous! By manya throeof heat and cold convuls'd (by thesethyself solidifying), Thou mental,moralorb- thou New, indeednew, SpiritualWorld! The Presentholds thee not- for such vast growthas thine, For such unparallel'dflightas thine,such brood as thine, The Future only holds thee and can hold thee.
At all events,if the nations of the two Americas can combineto intervenein the affairsof a turbulent naneighbor,how much more can the non-combatant tionsof the world,who also have sufferedby the war, who also share in the destinyof the world,asserttheir claim to insistthat the treatyof peace be drawn up neitherin satisfactionof individualvengeancenor in supportof an artificialbalance of power, but in ac- H. G. cordance with the principleof nationalities. Dwight. How shall we preservethe supremacyof virtueand the soundnessof the commonjudgment? How shall we buttressDemocracy? The peril of this nation is not in any foreignfoe! We, the people,are its power, its peril,and its hope!- Charles E. Hughes.
Land of unprecedented faith,God's faith, Thy soil,thyverysubsoil,all upheav'd, The general innerearth so long so sedulouslydraped over, now hence for what it is boldlylaid bare, The firstmotivewhich ought to impel us to study Open'd by theeto heaven'slightfor benefitor bale. is the desire to augmentthe excellenceof our nature, Not for success alone, Not to fair-sailunintermitted always,
and to renderan intelligentbeingyet more intelligent. - Montesquieu.