The concept of brief encounters, even romantic encounters, with a stranger recurs often in the verses of Walt Whitman.
Take, for example, these lines from one of the inscriptions that Whitman wrote to his 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass.
"Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me,
why should you not speak to me?
And why should I not speak to you?"
Clearly, Walt Whitman sees brief, chance encounters with strangers as an appropriate opportunity for the strangers to interact. Perhaps the communication will allow the strangers to become friends.
In the lines of "To A Stranger," Whitman indicates that the strangers might become intimate and affectionate friends. The narrator in the poem is comfortably able to imagine himself creating a past history with the passing stranger and to foresee the opportunities for them to enjoy each other in physically affectionate ways.
Here's a line from "Song of the Open Road," written in 1860.
"Do you know what it is, as you pass, to be loved by strangers? Do you know the talk of those turning eye-balls?"
And from Whitman's "Carol of Occupations."
"If you meet some stranger in the streets, and love him or her-why I often meet strangers in the street, and love them."
Also consider this excerpt from "Who Is Now Reading This?"
"Or may-be a stranger is reading this who has secretly loved me,
Walt Whitman's verses create a sense of comfort with the idea that strangers can longingly look at each other and act upon their impulses. Perhaps the next encounter will be with one's soulmate, as in the line, "You must be he I was seeking," from "To A Stranger."
It seems reasonable to presume that Walt Whitman met many strangers in his lifetime and enjoyed the encounters. It's been said that Whitman was one of America's first self-identified homosexuals and his lifestyle may have reflected his ease with and attraction to strangers.
"To A Stranger" is also known as "Calamus 22." "Calamus" is a series or cluster of 45 poems that were included in the editions of Leaves Of Grass.
The "Calamus" series is about "manly attachment," and it's a series in which Whitman will "tell the secret of my nights and days." Both quotes are from the first poem in the "Calamus" series.
Among the concluding lines in "To A Stranger," Walt Whitman says, "I am not to speak to you." a phrase typical of a man following orders, as in society's judgment against forbidden love. Yet undaunted and un-discouraged Whitman says, "I am to see to it that I do not lose you."
It seems that love, even with a stranger, will find a way.
To A Stranger
By Walt Whitman
Passing stranger! you do not know
How longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking,
Or she I was seeking
(It comes to me as a dream)
I have somewhere surely
Lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall'd as we flit by each other,
Fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,
You grew up with me,
Were a boy with me or a girl with me,
I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become
not yours only nor left my body mine only,
You give me the pleasure of your eyes,
face, flesh as we pass,
You take of my beard, breast, hands,
in return,
I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you
when I sit alone or wake at night, alone
I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again
I am to see to it that I do not lose you.
*****************************
Garry Gamber is a public school teacher and entrepreneur. He writes articles about real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.anchorage-homes.com and http://www.anchorage-homes.com
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carOut of the eight poems provided here [all previously unpublished],... Read More
She probably can't remember and I know I can never... Read More
In the midst of darkness, there is light. In... Read More
One of the most important poets of the post-war period,... Read More
Amy King's first full-length collection, Antidotes for an Alibi, insists... Read More
You can show your poem to your mom, your spouse,... Read More
JOINEDHeart beat of man pounding - yet unheard joined... Read More
Contract of DeathI heard today, the preacher say: "Daniel has... Read More
Sorry would be a start.Though you cant take back your... Read More
When I am climbing up, you are stepping down. When... Read More
Emlyn Williams Theatre, Mold, North Wales: 20th February 2003Clwyd Theatr... Read More
Ode to Quetzalc?atlQuetzalc?atl the GreatNo one knew his true name,... Read More
Kamalakanta was born in Burdwan India in the late 18th... Read More
Blind DesignsBorn today, gone tomorrow Like a butterfly with no... Read More
[Episode Five]Arizona Blue-GunfighterThe Wolves Nest-in the North[Episode Five]Northern Minnesota Area?Winter... Read More
Have you ever read the lyrics of a Simon and... Read More
Way of Life: Rhymes of the IncaPizarro (Spanish conquistador ((1525))The... Read More
Burning Autumn Leaves [1950s in St. Paul, Minnesota]My long steel... Read More
(The city by the bay of Northern California, near which... Read More
No one should have to beg or crawl before humanity.... Read More
1.Evil's CreationThou knowith evil clings To tender peace-; Nor does... Read More
To many non-specialists of literature, poetry is deeply unsatisfying. There... Read More
Two Poems and an Analysis ['Witness,' & 'An Old Love']WitnessMy... Read More
My eyes opened. I am still alive; Living on... Read More
Little girl from HuancayoDo you really, really know? Just how... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Lord Byron's opening couplet to "She Walks In Beauty" is... Read More
Blind DesignsBorn today, gone tomorrow Like a butterfly with no... Read More
[As Told by the Last] King: it was in the... Read More
The Poet's Corner [Three poem/ see review of poetry under... Read More
Twilight, was now beginning. As forthe sun, it was down-down... Read More
Daybreak at Pikes Creek [Summer of 2005]Daybreak by Lake Superior... Read More
There are many times I set up barriers and walls,... Read More
Old skin, once held tight Against her skeleton- Rose no... Read More
I cannot bear to think of when you will be... Read More
Poet Stephen B. Wiley's first book of poetry, Hero Island,... Read More
Delicately, my mind was selecting a muffled tune, out of... Read More
Out of the eight poems provided here [all previously unpublished],... Read More
I want to get closeI am afraid.Afraid of what... Read More
the disease of extremism is infectious-; whoever cannot think of... Read More
Writing poetry is an art, a way of expression, finding... Read More
Truth is stranger than fiction according to many people who... Read More
Key Largo:The fans turn lazily in front of the doorThey... Read More
McLean, VA - "The Healing Conscious" tells the story of... Read More
FIND the MAGICFind the Magic As you release old bondage... Read More
Memoirs of a Wasteland's RimIt still was light when she... Read More
Storm Rising along the Lima Coast [Summer of 2002]?wind was... Read More
1.Night in Jamaica [Peruvianism: 1810]It was a rainy night... Read More
One of the most important poets of the post-war period,... Read More
English VersionThe Merchant of Copan [480 AD]Advance: The ballgame at... Read More
Hammers. Timbers. Iron. Steel.They're laying down a mighty keel.As ant-like... Read More
Poetry |