Drum-Taps

This week I will be looking at a section of poems titled Drum-Taps. These poems were published in the 4th Edition of Leaves of Grass. This was a time of war, the American Civil War to be exact, which took a great toll on Whitman.

As I begin my journey into these new poems I find myself pausing at "Song of the Banner at Daybreak."  I think it was bloody brilliant that Whitman broke this poem up into different voices: poet, banner, father, child-- back and forth they banter. I feel that his message was that the success of America wasn't about money and materiality but about our true spirit. It seems the poet is trying to find his place as American's bard and in the final lines, it hits him, 

"Out of reach, an idea only, yet furiously fought for, risking bloody death, loved by me / So loved -- O you banner leading the day with stars brought from the night / Valueless, object of eyes, over all and demanding all--(absolute owner of all)---O banner and pennant."

It seems to me that this is another of Whitman's moments as seer of the future. How could he have known that the site of the stars and stripes would continue to wave in glory today. I think it is a very interesting description that the American flag is absolute owner of all. I think of how we ALL stand and place our hands over our hears each time she waves before us. She has become a symbol of our freedom, and I think Whitman recognized this when he wrote this poem. 

I think it was also very honest of Whitman to capture the fear of Father for child. "Child of mine you fill me with anguish / To be that pennant would be too fearful / Little you know what it is this day, and after this day, forever, / Is it to gain nothing, but risk and defy every thing / Forward to stand in front of wars--and O, such wars!--what have you to do with them? / With passions of demons, slaughter, premature death?" 
It seems there is always a price to being American and my heart is with every family who has ever lost a loved one. Hopefully we fight for freedom and not the material things that are talked of in this poem. This poem would be a good reminder for folks today, who are taking a stand. The child in this poem is so full of honesty, knowing what is right, blind to politics.

The banner says, "We, even we, henceforth flaunt out masterful, high up above, / Not for the present alone, for a thousand years chanting through you / This song to the soul of one poor little child." I wish Americans could see how selfish we've become. Though each time I read one of Whitman's poems, I feel that we've always been selfish. There will always be those who are greedy and push to fight for the wrong reasons. "Out of reach, an idea only..." We need to remember what it means to be a citizen of the United States of America. The true spirit of America resides within each and every one of us--- men and women having been giving their lives for our freedom and the freedom of others since the birth of our great Nation. I am humbled by those who have fought for me.