Poem
In his poem, Emerson describes who a poet is, does, writes, speaks, originates, and also what he stands for. However, most of the characteristics he says that describe these features disagree with Whitman’s thought, as described in the poem “song of myself.”
Under what a poet “originates,” Emerson says that the poet is “the first speaker.” Whitman responds this to his poem, saying that he harbor for good or bad. He also says that he allows speaking at all dangers, nature without check with original energy. In this response, he tries to tell Emerson that he speaks everything, and he knows how to prevent himself from being a victim of evil.
In what the poet stands form, Emerson gives the characteristic of “a breaker from the past.” Whitman responds to this characteristic by saying that “the past is the push of you, me, all, precisely the same, And what is yet untried and afterward is for you, me, all, precisely the same” (Whitman). In this response, Whitman tries to tell Emerson that the past is still significant because it has shaped or forced people to be who they are.
One of Emerson’s characteristics under “writes” states that the poet must “able to recognize that every word is itself a poem.” However, Whitman does not take this response positively because he asks if Emerson has felt so proud to know the meaning of the poem. He dares Emerson to be with him during the day and night, and Emerson will understand the origin of every poem.
Under what the poet “speaks,” Emerson says that the poet is “a singer of a nation.” Whitman responds to this claim to disagree with Emerson that a competent poet does not have to sing about the nation.” He says that he celebrates himself and also sing himself. He also says that he gets satisfied when he observes, dance, laugh, as well as sing during the night.
While giving characteristics of who the competent poet “is,” Emerson explains that a poet is “all men.” On the other hand, Whitman does not agree with him because he says: “And that all the men ever born are also my brothers, and the women my sisters and lovers,” (Whitman). In this response, he tries to mean that he is related to all men, but he is not all men, as Emerson describes. For Whitman, all men and women have a relationship with him because they do not describe him in any way.
Under what the poet does, Emerson says he is “the giver of life.” Whitman responds to this and shows to differ with Emerson’s understanding. According to him, “In me the caresser of life wherever moving, backward as well as forward sluing, To niches aside and junior bending, not a person or object missing,” (Whitman). In this response, Whitman tries to show Emerson that a human being does not have any power to give life. He also shows that even objects do not have the ability to have this effect on the life of a person.
In conclusion, the way that Emerson gives various characteristics of an effective poet by describing who he or she is, does, writes, speaks, originates, and stands for. Whitman responds to most of these characteristics, and he mostly shows to disagree with Emerson on his description of the poet.