When reading for today, I was really interested in the difference between Whitman’s poetry and prose. Specifically, it was interesting to me to compare the very abstract and theoretical nature of Whitman’s poetry to the very literal and factual nature of his prose. I’m not sure yet which one I prefer though I have grown found of his poems and the messages behind them.
When reading “Memories of President Lincoln” and excerpts from Specimen Days back-to-back, I was really intrigued by Whitman’s different “voices” or tone when comparing the pieces.
I really enjoyed reading the poems and found them to be quite sad, which makes sense due to the subject matter. Even with Whitman’s sometimes ethereal descriptions with the stars and the singing of the bird, I think it succeeded in showing the impact of the loss of Lincoln’s life. Section 15 in particular did a great job describing how the dead do not suffer but those they have left behind do. All that to say that I really liked them.
Obviously the subject matter within Specimen Days is grim and real, but Whitman is surprisingly composed and neutral about it for the most part. Everything is simply listed off without much lingering on any of the content. We are given (barebones) descriptions of the environments but we lose the introspection we get in Whitman’s poetry. It does make sense contextually as Whitman, and in turn the reader, is always moving and working and cannot afford to sit and grieve all that is happening. That is not to say that I dislike this style as I think it can be emotional in its distinct lack of emotions from Whitman. Yet by the end of the readings with “The White House by Moonlight,” Whitman’s poetic descriptions have returned. He takes the time to absorb and reflect on the environment around him, and notably does not mention anyone dying around him.