Ode to Walt Whitman

Fiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 1930

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Summary

Background

Poem Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Symbols & Motifs

River

The river is one central symbol in “Ode to Walt Whitman.” The East River is specifically named in Lines 1 and 10, which gives the poem a sense of location. While the silver miners never want “to be the river” (Line 7), Whitman dreams of “becoming a river and sleeping like a river” (Line 43). Whitman, from his pastoral and romantic perspective, wants to mimic and be part of nature. The modern, urban men that labor as part of the lower class do not share this sentiment. Whitman also looks for a “nude like a river” (Line 73). Adoring male bodies is linked to adoring nature, represented symbolically by the river, for Whitman.

Face

Facial features is a motif in “Ode to Walt Whitman.” Tongues appear multiple times, including the “shoreline’s blue tongue” (Line 9) near the beginning of the poem, which relates to the river and Whitman’s connection between the male body and nature. The mouth as a whole is also connected to the natural world. The “mouth of the sky” (Line 14) reflects the river—both are referred to as “blue” in the poem—and this passage personifies the sky. The line between loving nature and loving men is blurred.

Near the end of the poem, Whitman’s “tongue” (Line 129) represents his poetic voice which “calls for / comrades” (Lines 129-30). The body part previously embedded in nature (a deep part of nature) becomes active communication between humans. When Lorca asks Whitman, “What angel is hidden in your cheek?” (Line 26), he is calling on the limitations of poetic inspiration from angels. Rather than an angel or muse, Lorca is inspired by duende, which brings to light things that are hidden.

Faun/Satyr

A third motif is the mythological creature called a faun or satyr. In Greek and Roman mythology, a faun is a creature or spirit who is part man and part goat. Satyrs are similar, but often represented as part horse and part man. Both male nature spirits are associated with sexuality and with the gods Pan, or Faunus. Lorca includes a “river faun” (Line 12) and declares Whitman is “Enemy of the satyr” (Line 37). This symbolically means Whitman is opposed to ecstatic, drunken celebration. Wild parties like these are referred to as “bacchanal[s]” (Line 126), and Lorca encourages keeping the doors to these parties closed to homophobes.