song of myself

section 6 is really crucial, i think, to the whole work. (page 31 for the syllabus link)

first of all, the very fact that the discussion is with a child is interesting. also, the I at this point of the poem is kind of at a confusing place, so there's that to unpack. i think it's important that these aren't recollections of whitman's physical experiences. we talked a bit about experience possibly being some sort of origin of faith and resilience in tennyson. if we ask a similar question of whitman, i think we really begin to get somewhere.

also, the narrative "I" is incapable of pinning down a single definition of grass, so much so that he can't even answer the child's question. why is that? he goes through a couple of ways of thinking about grass-- that is, possible answers to the child's question. where he finally settles is pretty unexpected, ". . .uncut hair of graves." it takes a morose turn for a moment, as it meditates on the possible inhabitants of the graves and yearns to hear their words. but his conclusion is intriguing "Has any one supposed it is lucky to be born?/ I hasten to inform him or her it is just as lucky to die, and I know it."

he knows it? also, the section on 35 where the "I" is assuming different roles is, I think, directly related to this. what do you guys think?