The Legacy Of Walt Whitman And The Decline Of Modern Poetry

By Dr Maqsood Jafri

Today, on the Facebook page of English Literature, a poem of great American poet Walt Whitman titled “O Captain! My Captain” is posted. It is a dirge on the death of a military officer who died while defending his country. Of course, from human angle, it is a heart-breaking poem. War is the enemy of peace and peace is a cherished goal of all poets and people. No sane person can support war ideology.

I had read the poetry book of Walt Whitman titled “The Leaves of Grass” long ago. He is a great poet who promoted the democratic norms. His writing diction is quite simple and candid. It is not metaphorical and lyrical like author American of British grand poets. It is somewhat like prose poetry. One thing goes to his credit and that is the variety of multiple topics, universal and humanitarian subjects in his poetry. He is much read in America. He is known as The Poet of Democracy. I have seen the place in New York where he lived. In my book of English articles titled “Moderate Meditation”, there is a chapter on his poetry.

In my opinion, the great English poets such as Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, John Milton, William Wordsworth, Lord Byron, Shelley and John Keats are not found in Modern English literature. It is same with American literature and the literature of several languages. What is the reason of this literary decay? The lack of sincerity, loyalty, passion, compassion, humility and humanity in general social fabric.

Poetry is on slippery decline due to materialism. In a material culture, the public becomes more prone to worldly gains and purity of passions vanishes as has happened in American and Western cultures. This vicious cultural assault has defiled and destroyed the love embracing culture of East as well. Under the circumstances, it will be miraculous, if America produces another Walt Whitman.

I would very briefly like to write a few lines on the poetry of Walt Whitman with the intent that our youth who writes poetry should know that only the “Poetry of Mission” survives. By poetry of mission, I mean the promotion of humanity, liberty, democracy, fraternity, universality, love, peace, modesty, virtuosity and justice. I am sorry to say that still majority of the poets of Asia and Africa are shallow minded and have no broader spectrum of poetic mission. They are merely romantic, pessimistic, conventional and retrogressive.

In my book of English articles titled “Independent Ideas”, published by National Book Foundation, Islamabad, there is a comprehensive article on the Walt Whitman. I would suggest to the younger generation who writes poetry should study these two books on Walt Whitman. First; The Works of Walt Whitman”, by Malcolm Cowley and Second; “Some Lines from Whitman”, by Randall Jarrell.

In my opinion the most representative poem in the poetry collection of Walt Whitman titled “Leaves of Grass “, is “Song of Myself”. This poem exhibits the modern sensibility of Selfhood, liberty, individualism, justice and democracy. He is the American National Poet, known as an introducer and innovator of Prose Poetry in American literature. He also enjoys the epithet “Poet of Democracy”.

In his life time, several poets opposed his poetic diction and ideas, but when Emerson admired his poetry and his poetic mission, he was taken seriously by people. His admirers said, a poet is neither a prophet nor a priest. Poet is poet. Poets are free to give novel ideas in the gush of their intellectual and intuitive depths. They are free thinkers and stalwarts of modern and progressive thoughts. Whitman belonged to poor class and suffered the pangs of poverty. He wrote what he believed and felt. He was bold and blunt in his convictions. As a poet, he preached humanity, democracy and socialism. In a nutshell, it can be said that the cumulative fashioning of his personality and poetic mission is divided into three categories. First; Whitman was liberal. Second; Whitman was merely sententious. Third; Whitman the Bard of Democracy.

Categories: Literature, Poetry

Tags: America, English Literature, Poetry, poets, Walt Whitman