Poetry Review – Walt Whitman – The Sleepers Verse 3

Photo – taken by me – Walt Whitman & William Shakespeare
Preston, England
November 7, 2015 7:54am CST
1856 Whitman continues his astral voyage and comes to observe a strong virile, beautiful naked athletic man swimming in a vast raging ocean. At first, it seems graceful, and Whitman admires the beauty (he was gay), but gradually, the swimmer loses energy and drowns. His body is broken on the rocks and then swept out helplessly to sea. Whitman’s dream-like vision may be a study of the fear of the loss of youth and vitality. It’s lack of explanation makes it all very mysterious and enigmatic. Arthur Chappell
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3 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
7 Nov 15
It is a pretty sad vision, but I think that this must be a vision of the loss of youth.
1 person likes this
Arthur Chappell
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
7 Nov 15
yes the loss of youth is very much its most likely interpretation
1 person likes this
Catherine
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
7 Nov 15
It could very much be the loss of youth and vitality. Or maybe broken dreams.
Marie
@Tampa_girl7 (54741)
• United States
7 Nov 15
That is most depressing.