2.

1 Song of the Open Road

By Walt Whitman

About the Poet:

Walt Whitman (May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist
and journalist. He was often called the father of free verse though he did not
invent it but he revived and extensively used Free Verse in his poetry as it gives
more freedom of expression.
Whitman’s work breaks the boundaries of poetic form and is generally prose-like.
He also used unusual images and symbols in his poetry.
Two of his well known poems, “O Captain! My Captain!” and “When Lilacs Last
in the Dooryard Bloomed”, were written on the death of Abraham Lincoln.
‘Song of the Open Road’(1856) is from the collection, ‘Leaves of Grass’. The
poems of Leaves of Grass are loosely connected with each other representing
Whitman’s celebration of his philosophy of life and humanity.

Introduction
‘Song of the Open Road’ is a poem by Walt Whitman. It is taken from his
collection of poems "Leaves of Grass". It was written in 1856. Walt Whitman
strongly advocated the importance of democracy and Freedom.
Walt Whitman is often called the father of free verse. The poem, ‘Song of the
Open Road’ is also written in the free verse. The poet intends to express his open
thoughts over journey of life taken on different roads. The unrhymed and varying
length of lines shows that the poet doesn’t want to bind himself in the restriction
of any structure for the poem. It also indicates the poet’s inner desire to enjoy life
to its fullest without bothering about the stress and worries due to the expectations
of society.
It is an inspirational poem written in the form of narration. The poem is written
during the pre-civil war period in the US. With an attitude of open-mindedness
and positivity he declares that he is set for a new journey to look out for new
avenues and unexplored areas of his life. He describes the road as being open
and free. It gives him freedom to choose whichever path he likes to take, thus
emphasizing democracy.

The Title
The title of the poem is very significant as Whitman has used the word, ‘Song’
with a definite purpose that it is to be sung with joy and not just read silently and
it also indicates the joy he felt while travelling on the open road without any stress
and worries of the past, present and future. He wants to live his life without any
restrictions. The Open Road is symbolic of freedom as well as numerous
opportunities available to the poet. The poet wishes to move ahead on the road of
life with his own will without any complaints. The road is indirectly compared to
the way of life and is symbolic of being openness and freedom. The poem, ‘Song
of the Open Road’ advocates Freedom.

Theme
Freedom and joy of free life are the major themes of this poem. Throughout the
poem, the poet encourages the readers to be true to themselves, live a free life and
enjoy the freedom of life. Although his life was not free from obligations and
troubles in the past, he has left that behind and encourages everyone to live their
dreams, leaving the obstacles behind. Hear the healthy, free world is a sign of
democracy along with slavery free world.

Paraphrase
The poem begins with poet’s journey on foot on the open road. Here the road
means the road of life. He expresses that he is very happy to take up the journey
towards this healthy and free world. Here, by light hearted the poet means to say
that he is without any prejudices or pre-conceived notions about anything. The
poet adds that he has a control over his journey as he is free to choose his
destination and to select the simple (brown) path to travel. The brown road
indicates a path not many usually take. It’s not a common and usual way of life
the poet has taken up. The brown road is something the poet chooses instead of
the royal avenues. The poet prepares himself to take a journey on the road of life
in a cheerful mood. He is happy to take the road to a healthy and free world. He
takes up this (brown) road taking him to the world of his choice.
The poet continues by saying that he does not ask for good fortune and considers
himself the creator of his own fortune. He adds that he will not hesitate to do
anything he wants to do now and will not postpone it. He expects nothing from
his life or anyone. He is no longer satisfied being confined to the four walls. He
is strong free to travel on the open road having detached himself from several
complaints and arguments in his past life. He is content about the decision of the
kind of life he has chosen for himself. He considers himself to be in complete
control of his life. So he does not need factors like luck, fortune or destiny as he
considered himself a fortune. Now onwards he won’t brood over anything or ask
for any materialistic pleasure or success as he is happy with his present life and
to travel with freedom. He is no more interested in being confined in the four
walls of the house and he wants to free himself of the worldly/domestic stress,
petty fights, burdensome relations, complaints by other people and he wants to
explore himself rather than gain knowledge from books. He is no more stressed
but ‘strong and content’ as the pleasure of travelling on the relaxed road makes
all problems vanish.
In the next part, the poet says that he is trying to free himself from the worldly
pleasures and relations. He knows that there are many influential people who have
achieved great success and they are doing well. He is happy for them, no more he
likes to engage himself with those people who can help him in achieving that kind
of success. He is clear that he doesn’t want those people and the fortune he can
achieve with their help. He thinks that the mother earth is now enough for him to
travel and he no longer wishes to achieve any fortune or worldly success.
Constellations means a group of stars, here it may mean some great fortune which
can be achieved only with the influence of the stars and planets or a stroke of luck
or destiny; or it can be a group/ gathering of influential people or celebrities. The
poet says that he no more likes to engage in the glossy worldly affairs, pleasures
and the people with celebrity status as his humble and simple life where he’s
connected to the mother earth is enough for him to live his life where he wants to
travel and explore. He’s happy to be rooted and grounded in the simple life he has
chosen for himself. He does not want the influence of great people or factors like
luck/destiny but wants to distance himself from all that. (worldly
pleasure/relationships) He believes that they will do well and be happy without
them. Those belonging to the that world will take care of themselves. He has no
complaints about the world which gives importance to the worldly pleasures. He
thinks that it’s fine with him that those people belong to the starry life and are
happy with it though he wants to stay away from such life.
In the parenthesis i.e. the bracket, the poet also adds that the relationships he had
with various people, the bitter and sweet memories of the people are like an old
delicious burden which he will carry with him all his life as they have created a
deep impact on his life so it is impossible for him to get rid of the bundle of
memories and in a way he is not willing to forget those memories. He has a lot of
good and bad memories of the people who were once part of his life. He wants to
cherish them forever in his heart. He admits that they have in a way completed
him and he has completed them through the relationships and experiences they
have shared together. The poet wants to say that even though he has left past life
behind him, he will carry the burden of the bitter and sweet memories of the
people who influenced him and were part of his life. He calls those memories as
a delicious burden as they are pleasant and somewhere burdensome at the same
time. He feels that those people have filled his life with a lot of colourful
memories and he too is and will be part of their life through their memories. He
will carry those memories with him all his life as it’s impossible for him to forget
them.
Message of the poem and opinion
The poem teaches us to be optimistic and happy and to choose what makes us
truly happy. The poet tells us that we should follow our heart and pursue our
dreams. Poet emphasizes the importance of freedom. The poem encourages us to
enjoy our life in a happy, healthy and free environment. The poem gives a
motivating message to us to fill our heart with immense joy and happiness and
not bother too much about the worldly restrictions.
The poem celebrates Freedom and encourages readers to enjoy freedom of life
and fill our hearts with immense pleasure by overcoming all obstacles while
following ones dreams. The poet also suggests that one should be ready to pay
the price of the freedom and perusing our passion. Nothing comes easily without
a price so we need to make the choices thoughtfully. The poem also encourages
us by developing a positive attitude towards life and experiences and being clear
about what we truly want.
Poetic devices, style and special features
The poem is written in a very simple but effective language. As it is written in the
free verse, there is no rhyme scheme and meter. Length of the lines and stanzas
are not equal. Hence there is no emphasis on structure as he uses freedom of verse
and there is free flow of ideas and feelings. The poem is written in a narrative
style. The speaker seems to know himself very well and so considers himself to
be in complete control of his life.
In the last part the poet uses parenthesis to explain who are the people and the
worldly needs he wants to separate himself from and what exactly he feels about
them. Interesting phrases like ‘querulous criticisms’ and ‘delicious burdens’ are
used. Images such as, ‘constellations’ and ‘brown colour’ create effect of imagery
which is noteworthy. Other figures of speech such as Alliteration, Metaphor,
Repetition and Paradox are used impressively.
POETIC DEVICES used in the poem
Imagery
• The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
Imagery – Detail description with the mention of colour is used to create a visual
image in the reader’s mind.

Figures of speech:
1) Song of the road
Metaphor – Indirect comparison between life and the road is used.
2) Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road.
Inversion- The words are not in a correct prose order. The correct prose order is,
‘I take to the open road afoot and light hearted’.
 3) Healthy, free, the world before me,
Inversion- The words are not in a correct prose order. The correct prose order is,
(There is) healthy, free world before me,
4) The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
Alliteration – Sound of letter ‘l’ is repeated.
Metaphor – Indirect comparison between life and the path is used.
5) Henceforth I ask not good- fortune, I myself am good- fortune,
Repetition – The word ‘good –fortune’ is repeated.
6) Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Repetition - The phrase ‘no more’ is repeated.
Alliteration – Sound of letter ‘n’ is repeated.
7) Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous
criticisms,
Alliteration- Sound /k/ made by the letters, ‘q and c’ is repeated.
8) Strong and content I travel the open road.
Inversion- The words are not in a correct prose order. The correct prose order is
– I travel the open road strong and content.
9) I do not want the constellations any nearer,
Metaphor – Indirect comparison between constellations and destiny or the
influential people like celebrities is used.
10) I know they are very well where they are,
Repetition – Words ‘they’ are repeated.
11) Still here I carry my old delicious burdens,
Paradox- Delicious and burden express use of seemingly impossible use of
opposite ideas. A burden cannot be delicious.
Metaphor – Old sweet memories are indirectly compared to delicious burdens
12) I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go,
Repetition - Words 'Carry them’ are repeated.
13) I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return
Repetition- The word ‘fill’ is repeated.

Note – Appreciation is the critical analysis of the poem. It should be written in