"Prayer of Columbus"

This is the last poem we're looking at as my exploration of Whitman comes to an end. I am sure I will be seeing him again though!

"Prayer of Columbus" was written with Christopher Columbus in mind, but in true Whitman form the underlying layers in this poem scream about Whitman's life as he neared the end. The poem is written like a prayer to God, which I believe is very uncharacteristic of Whitman. In fact, I feel he was feeling his own mortality and that is why he chose this form.

The poem begins, "A batter'd, wreck'd old man..." Whitman was ailing, feeling the effects of a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side. Perhaps he felt a kinship with Columbus, like the two were great explorers--one in a more physical sense and the other in a metaphysical sense! Kind of like "Passage to India" Whitman writes of Columbus' life work - sort of like a list of accomplishments, physically and spiritually. I like the line, "Intentions, purports, aspirations mine, leaving results to Thee." It's like Columbus' work was in God's hands. "A message from the Heavens whispering to me even in sleep, / These sped me on."

In the line, "By me the hemispheres rounded and tied, the unknown to the known." I can really see the dual purpose in this line. Whitman wanted to connect with people and pass on his transcendental views. He wanted to connect worlds in unity--uniting races and genders. 

As this poem comes to an end there is a different tone about it. I think Whitman is seeing the possibility of life after death--"As if some miracle, some hand divine unseal'd my eyes." It's like all of a sudden he was seeing so clearly what was going to happen. I almost felt like he was excited and at peace with the idea of being finished in our world. 

I think this is a great poem. I like the tribute to Columbus, but I also like the underlying hints of what Whitman was feeling and going through himself. I like knowing personal things about the writer because it helps me gain a better understanding of what his true message is.