Song of Myself- the Author Is the Speaker

Song of Myself- the author is the speaker

1
I CELEBRATE myself, and sing myself,- the theme of the poem is the poet
And what I assume you shall assume,- using intuition (similar to Transcendentalists)
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.- universal man (Whitman is like everyone else)

I loafe and invite my soul, - taking the time to learn about himself
I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.- through nature

My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their
parents the same,- reference to The Bible- everyone comes from the same material and the same blood
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.- learning about himself/education

Creeds and schools in abeyance,- forget what you know and listen to me
Retiring back a while sufficed at what they are, but never forgotten,
I harbor for good or bad, I permit to speak at every hazard,
Nature without check with original energy.- speaks with both good and bad in mind. Feels as though nature flows directly through him without interpretation

Line 4- loafe- to spend time in idleness

Line 10- creeds- beliefs using faith; abeyance- temporary suspension; schools- formal education

52
The spotted hawk swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab
and my loitering.- the hawk complaining of his presence

I too am not a bit tamed, I too am untranslatable,- he feels like the hawk; wild
I sound my barbaric yaws over the roofs of the world. Can scream out to the civilized world

The last scud of day holds back for me,- perhaps he can see his own death
It flings my likeness after the rest and true as any on the shadow'd
wilds,
It coaxes me to the vapor and the dusk. – become part of the earth again

I depart as air, I shake my white locks at the runaway sun,
I effuse my flesh in eddies, and drift it in lacy jags. –Physical manifestation of sending his being into nature

I bequeath myself to the dirt to grow from the grass I love,
If you want me again look for me under your boot-soles. –Becoming part of the earth and returning to nature

You will hardly know who I am or what I mean,
But I shall be good health to you nevertheless,- relating his poetry to being something good for the body
And filter and fibre your blood. –Essential nature

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged,-knows he can be difficult to understand
Missing me one place search another,-keep looking at the works you will eventually understand the ideas he is trying to get across
I stop somewhere waiting for you. – The information is readily available in his poetry

Line 1-2- gab- talking in a conversational manner; loitering- in an area where you are not wanted

Line 4- yaw- loud, rough speech

Line 5- scud- wind-blown cloud

Effuse- to pour out or shed; disseminate

Eddies- circular motion