“One’s Self I Sing” is a poem by

Walt Whitman Walter Whitman Jr. (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist; he also wrote two novels. He is considered one of the most influential poets in American literature and world literature. Whitman incor ...

, published in 1867 as the first poem for the final phase of ''

Leaves of Grass ''Leaves of Grass'' is a poetry collection by American poet Walt Whitman. After self-publishing it in 1855, he spent most of his professional life writing, revising, and expanding the collection until his death in 1892. Either six or nine separa ...

''.

Poem

One’s-Self I sing, a simple, separate person; Yet utter the word Democratic, the word en-Masse. Of physiology from top to toe, I sing; Not physiognomy alone, nor brain alone, is worthy for the Muse I say the Form complete is worthier far; The Female equally with the Male I sing. Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and power, Cheerful for freest action form’d, under the laws divine, The Modern Man I sing.Text of "One's Self I Sing" from 1884 edition of ''Leaves of Grass'', Wilson & McCormick, Glasgow, 1884

Analysis

Whitman celebrated the average American and altogether union and

equality Equality generally refers to the fact of being equal, of having the same value. In specific contexts, equality may refer to: Society * Egalitarianism, a trend of thought that favors equality for all people ** Political egalitarianism, in which ...

which differentiates it between stories of the time and of the past. Whitman speaks of

individuality An individual is one that exists as a distinct entity. Individuality (or self-hood) is the state or quality of living as an individual; particularly (in the case of humans) as a person unique from other people and possessing one's own needs or g ...

in the first lines. The combination of the “one” and the continuing of the “self” throughout the poem can be translated as, “everyman's self”. Whitman also speaks of freedom, identity, and all around brotherhood. The theme changes in the three lines that follow when he references our spirit and physical body, our

sexuality Human sexuality is the way people experience and express themselves sexually. This involves biological, psychological, physical, erotic, emotional, social, or spiritual feelings and behaviors. Because it is a broad term, which has varied ...

, male and female, and our wisdom. The final lines conclude with the idea of desire, physical and inner strength, and potential. Throughout the entire poem there is disagreement, such as, when the speaker says “simple” in the first line, “simple” meaning “not special,” and finishes the first line with “separate,” followed by the third line of "en-Masse", or togetherness. As the title is, “One’s Self,” not “Myself”, this already forms the bond between the reader and writer which again is what he is conveying in the poem. The final line has the reader caught up in the difference between past heroes and the “modern man” which is just as powerful if one believes that it is so. Whitman’s writing could clarify an inner fight over his sexuality. Whitman wrote many pieces using the idea that he was the sophisticated teacher and the reader his accepting and willing student in which passion and desire transpire.

Form

The first line is set in regular

iambic pentameter Iambic pentameter ( ) is a type of metric line used in traditional English poetry and verse drama. The term describes the rhythm, or meter, established by the words in each line. Meter is measured in small groups of syllables called feet. "Iambi ...

, but the flow of the syllables in line two can be called “ accentual or

anapestic An anapaest (; also spelled anapæst or anapest, also called antidactylus) is a metrical foot used in formal poetry. In classical quantitative meters it consists of two short syllables followed by a long one; in accentual stress meters it consis ...

”. Critics noted Whitman’s form of triangular-shaped

stanza In poetry, a stanza (; from Italian ''stanza'', ; ) is a group of lines within a poem, usually set off from others by a blank line or indentation. Stanzas can have regular rhyme and metrical schemes, but they are not required to have either. ...

s beginning with a short line followed by longer lines. Some have understood that starting the

poem Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

off with a short line invites the reader to expect “regular” poetry which is more relatable and understandable than Whitman's more experimental form. Whitman’s third and final phase of ''

'' was also known as the “inscriptions” section.

Notes

{{Walt Whitman Poetry by Walt Whitman 1881 poems