2.1 Poem Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman Class 12th Appreciation and Explanation 2022

Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman

       Dear students, now you are at the most important turning point of your life journey because it is the 12th std that gives a turn in your life. 2.1 Poem – Song of the Open Road  definitely help you in your life journey. 2.1 Poem – Song of the Open Road is a poem about how to carry the journey of life. Which things we should have with us. The poet explains very pleasingly how we should lead the life journey on the open road. This poem helps you while carrying on the journey of life.

About the Poet:

Walt Whitman (1819 to 1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon and is often called ‘The Father of Free Verse.’ He grew up in Huntington in a family with difficult economic status. His major work ‘Leaves of Grass’ was published in July 1855. His ‘O Captain! My Captain!’, a poem written on the death of Abraham Lincoln, is widely popular.

The section one of ‘Song of the Open Road’ from ‘Leaves of Grass’, is a beautiful blend of self-awareness, free will, and tenderness of heart. It gives us the poet’s realization that along the journey of life one will face a test of wisdom that is not tested in any school or university. A road is something everyone uses, whether rich or poor and it forces all levels of people to associate with one another. The road signifies ‘mobility.’ One can take the road as a point to start over towards something new. Whitman talks about the people and places. He argues against staying in one place for too long, although the hospitality may be true.

• Introduction:

It is a highly inspirational poem to everyone about the journey in one’s life. If we start the journey of life we have to start courageously, light-hearted, and passionate whether on which road we are. The poet urges how to start the journey of life. The poet is telling his own experience that The road has been chosen himself. On which road the journey should start and how everyone should feel on this road of our life’s journey. 

Poem:

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, 

Healthy, free, the world before me, 

The long brown path before me leads wherever I choose. 

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, 

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, 

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, 

Strong and content I travel the open road. 

The earth, that is sufficient,

I do not want the constellations any nearer, 

I know they are very well where they are, 

I know they suffice for those who belong to them. 

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, 

I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go, 

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them, 

I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.) 

-Walt Whitman 

Line wise line the explanation of the poem:

• The 1st Stanza:

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, 

Healthy, free, the world before me, 

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. 

The poet is on the open road and starts to walk the journey of life. He says that he is very healthy enough and free from any boundaries to travel the world before him because he recognizes that the journey has a long path (road) before him and that path is leading the poet where he wants to go on the journey of life. it means on such a long brown path he will choose (decide) where he should go.

• The 2nd Stanza:

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, 

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, 

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, 

Strong and content I travel the open road. 

           In the 2nd stanza, the poet tells how to determine who he is! and what are the things he does and doesn’t. Henceforth on the journey of life, the poet does not pray for fortune (luck) because he is the person who makes himself good fortune for life. Henceforth he will whimper (cry/ regret) no more for having nothing. He will not postpone any things tomorrow. He proudly tells that he does not need any things to carry on the journey of life. It is enough (done) to make complaints, libraries, and criticism. He is done being happy in a private room or he owns comfort zone, he is done arguments or any other’s irritating disapproval. He is fully strong and contentment (self-satisfied) or happy enough to travel on the open road.

• The 3rd stanza:

 The earth, that is sufficient,

 I do not want the constellations any nearer, 

I know they are very well where they are, 

I know they suffice for those who belong to them. 

           In the 3rd stanza, the poet compares himself with others. He says that the things (the earth) he has enough to carry the life journey happily. He says that he does not want any constellations any nearer. He does not want any extraordinary things with him as other people want to have with them. He says that he knows such people are very well where they are. People do compare themselves with others for things but the poet does not compare. He knows such people are sufficient for those things that belong to them.

• The 4th Stanza:

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, 

I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go, 

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them, 

I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.) 

         In the 4th stanza, the poet reveals the reality of life. This last stanza is into the bracket and it is the thought of the poet and the poet does not neglect the reality of life. Poet says that it is not that he has not any burden of life; he has the burden of life which he has to carry with him on the journey of life. Poet says that it is a delicious burden because no one can neglect it. He carries his own burden, his responsibilities, his problems, and his family. He has to carry such a burden where he goes because it is impossible to get rid of them. He says that his life is filled with such burdens and responsibilities and in return, he will fill (complete) all his responsibilities.

Appreciation of the poem:

• About poem, poet, and tile:

     “Song of the Open Road” is written by the American poet Walt Whitman. The poem is taken from the collection of the poet ‘Leaves of Grass’. Song of the Open Road is a highly inspirational poem with the massage of freedom and opportunity in life.

• The theme:

       The main theme of the poem is freedom; joy the journey of life, and optimism. The poet encourages the readers always be optimistic in the journey of life, to be honest with them, live a free life. On the journey of life, we should always be positive although the obstacles come in our path. Poet tells that finding your own road (path) in the journey of life and while walking on the road always be free and healthy. We have enough things to carry on the journey of life. In the end, the poet reveals the reality of life that on the journey we have to carry our own burdens happily.

• Language and poetic devices:

The artistic language used by the poet. It is easy to understand. In the poem, the poet used such poetic devices as a figure of speech they are Repetition, Metaphor, Paradox, Inversion, etc. The poem has no rhyme scheme.

• Special features:

      It is a free verse poem. The poem is symbolic like the word ‘road’ is symbolic. It is compared with human life. It is a sign of morality.

• Message, Value, Morals:

       The massage of the poem is always to be optimistic in life. Always be positive on the journey of life although obstacles in your path. We must believe in ourselves and our strengths. In our life, we have so many opportunities. Freedom is real life. Life is dynamic, live honestly.

• Your opinion:

        I am truly inspired by the poem. I have learned from this poem that always to be optimistic in every situation of life. We should not depend on a good fortune if you do hard work success is yours. On the journey of life face the problems with a positive attitude.

 At the last, I can say: “Believe in yourself and the world be at your feet.”

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