"Long I Thought That Knowledge Alone Would Suffice"

It seems that in this poem Walt Whitman quits. He says, "I heed knowledge, and the grandeur of The States and the example of heroes, no more / I am indifferent to my own songs--I will go with him I love / It is to be enough for us that we are together --We never separate again."

Who is this man that Whitman speaks of? Was there really someone or was Whitman just trying to get our attention? I don't know. What I do know is that he didn't quit. He continued to write his poems, but in this moment of writing this particular poem, he felt sure enough that love or the idea of love was more important to him than being America's poet. I can understand his feelings, no one was paying him much attention, at least not positive attention. I also wonder if this could be a suicide note, but he didn't follow through? "We never separate again" are very strong words - almost like Romeo and Juliet.

I think Whitman needed to find balance. Life is too hard to focus solely on one aspect. His poetry is starting to read like he was a lost soul instead of a great poet who KNEW the answers or was at least willing to talk through the questions. Was Whitman becoming desperate in 1860? The American Civil War went from 1861 - 1865. Did Whitman lose the love of his life in the war? So many questions and not enough answers, the story of life :)

I don't think knowledge is enough, we need to experience life, not watch it. I think Whitman missed out on this part of life. He spent too much time recording and reflecting and maybe not enough time living, but who am I too judge? I love to sit on the couch and watch the world go by. I love to get lost in the fictional world of a novel and not think about reality. What legacy will I leave behind?