tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post4725870665894598458..comments2024-01-14T12:04:49.488-05:00Comments on Behind the Lines: Poetry, War, & Peacemaking: Birth/Independence Days: Thinking of Whitman & BeginningsPhilip Metreshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05449159681282927289noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-55723199224428636342008-07-11T06:36:00.000-04:002008-07-11T06:36:00.000-04:00Ben, I really appreciate the comment about Whitman...Ben, I really appreciate the comment about Whitman and health--it seems as if he were performing a certain tonic hale-ness in the face of the realities of his time (particularly the diseases of 19th century urban life, which must have been nasty). And how counter-poetic that must have been, to the sickly o'r'd Romantics. Yes, I'm thinking of all the ailing people in my life, too, and how the haleness of Whitman feels both healing and blindness.Philip Metreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449159681282927289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-71990193368673015152008-07-11T01:53:00.000-04:002008-07-11T01:53:00.000-04:00The first edition has my favorite version of "Song...The first edition has my favorite version of "Song of Myself"; reading that poem without the interruption of numbers, with one part leading indivisibly into another, is dizzying pleasure. But there is so much that got added later that I love equally well. <I>Calamus</I>, for god's sake! I do wish one could get a printed copy of <B>every</B> edition. <BR/><BR/>Regarding Whitman and health: there are several really interesting passages about that in <I>With Walt Whitman in Camden</I>, the record of Whitman's last half-decade made by Horace Traubel. Here's one from the first volume (which is available <A HREF="http://www.whitmanarchive.org/criticism/disciples/traubel/" REL="nofollow">online</A>, by the way):<BR/><BR/>W. asked me a question in this way: "I have been thinking a good deal about <I>Sands at Seventy</I> today—a good deal. I want to know whether you feel that they will be out of place in <I>Leaves of Grass</I>—not integral—too distinctly different in character to connect with the story? ... I am curious to know what you feel about all that—to have you tell me." I spoke of the "dignity" of the <I>Sands</I>. He caught up the word at once. "Dignity, did you say? Is it dignity? I hope so—yes, I hope so. I remember well how one of my noblest, best friends—one of my wisest, cutest, profoundest, most candid critics—how Mrs. Gilchrist, even to the last, insisted that <I>Leaves of Grass</I> was not the mouthpiece of parlors, refinements—no—but the language of strength, power, passion, intensity, absorption, sincerity—that <I>Leaves of Grass</I> was no book for disease—for smallpox, rheumatism, yellow fever, scrofula—but was eminently and before all a book of health, the open air." ... Then he smiled and clenched his fist and raised his arm from the bed. "You know, boy, we must face all that and more: we must not be afraid of the worst—indeed, we must invite the worst—must bear all, brave all, and, coming to the test, throw or be thrown by it. ... The question has come back to me in fifty different forms as I lie here footing up my accounts with the Almighty!"<BR/><BR/>---<BR/><BR/>Such a dear, Whitman. And funny to be reading that with my mother-in-law in such poor health, hobbled outside the door to the room where I'm typing, asking me if I want some coffee.<BR/><BR/>Here's to life. Have some more birthday, Phil!<BR/><BR/>Ben F.mongibedduhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15189399154734690695noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-82855873227385708462008-07-07T10:50:00.000-04:002008-07-07T10:50:00.000-04:00Thanks Joseph, C, Jim, Rodney, for the happy happi...Thanks Joseph, C, Jim, Rodney, for the happy happies. Somehow I'm not so upset that I'm "getting older" (see the THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS song for reductio ad absurdum of the thinking in my head)...Philip Metreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449159681282927289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-50606665189472720142008-07-07T10:39:00.000-04:002008-07-07T10:39:00.000-04:00Happy B-day, Phil. They're all of 'em landmarks!Happy B-day, Phil. They're all of 'em landmarks!rodney khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10515711262628729312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-31882497003179090392008-07-06T19:01:00.000-04:002008-07-06T19:01:00.000-04:00Happy Birthday Dr. Phil, a few days late! Don't y...Happy Birthday Dr. Phil, a few days late! Don't you think they should make a poster of Whitman with the John Belushi/Animal House "COLLEGE" sweatshirt???<BR/><BR/>Although maybe that's too commercially mainstream for him/you. I, however, will continue to dream.<BR/><BR/>Hope you're well!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15142654134446146137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5910291709965283166.post-228391133670862632008-07-05T22:02:00.000-04:002008-07-05T22:02:00.000-04:00Hey Phil -- Happy Belated Birthday! It does pass q...Hey Phil -- Happy Belated Birthday! It does pass quickly, making it all the more essential that we relish every moment. I wish you all the best. J. RossSo It Shall Be Writtenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12846489752701500697noreply@blogger.com