Monday 22 April 2013

Day 294: Quicksand Years

 
What I love about Walt Whitman is his unparalleled focus and exalting of the Self. 
Here he makes a very valid point: 'One's-self must never give way - that is the final substance - that out of all is/ sure...' Amidst all the goings-on in the world, and those 'quicksand years' that threaten to drag us down, we must never give ourselves away. 
(Note how 'sure' rests on its own to highlight it, almost like a firm self standing strong in a vague universe...)
 
Quicksand Years - Walt Whitman
Quicksand years that whirl me I know not whither,
Your schemes, politics, fail-lines give way-substances mock and elude me;
Only the theme I sing, the great and strong-possess'd soul, eludes not,
One's-self must never give way - that is the final substance - that out of all is
     sure,
Out of politics, triumphs, battles, life, what at last finally remains?
When shows break up, what but One's-Self is sure?

1 comment:

  1. You can't cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. See the link below for more info.

    #standing
    www.ufgop.org

    ReplyDelete

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