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| Abraham Lincoln's Tomb, Springfield, Illinois |
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| Lilacs |
This elegy to President Abraham Lincoln was written by Whitman in the summer of 1865 after president’s assassination on 14th April, 1865. Whitman included this poem in his 1865 collection of “Drum-Taps”, a sequence of poems based on the experiences of his working as a nurse during the American Civil War. This is a long poem of 206 lines cast in pastoral elegy form. Whitman revised this poem many times from the time it was published. The final version was published in 1881 in “Leaves of Grass.” This elegy is considered as one of the best elegies comparable with John Milton’s “Lycidas” (1637) and Shelley’s “Adonais” (1821).
This elegy
is a first-person monologue with sixteen stanzas or strophes. The range of each
stanza varies in length from five to fifty-three lines. The length of each line
also varies from seven syllables to twenty syllables. It does not have
consistent metrical pattern. He achieves a coherent structure and beauty
through “the internal patterns of sound, diction, specific word choice and
effect of association.” The use of literary devices like repetition,
cataloguing, and parallelism, long flowing lines gives a pattern of unity and
incantatory quality to this poem.
According to Kathy Rugoff “the poem …has a
broad scope and incorporates a strongly characterized speaker, a complex
narrative action and an array of highly lyrical images.” According to another
critic, Helen Vendler, the poem reaches its most lyrical pitch in 14th
strophe, reaches its moral climax in fifteenth and ends with a note of
reconciliation in sixteenth strophe. This elegy does not mention Lincoln by
name or the circumstances surrounding his death.
This is a
pastoral elegy written in free verse. Whitman wrote two other elegies “O
captain! My captain!” and “Hushed be the camps today”. But this elegy is
grander and more touching than the other two elegies in structure and content.
Though it does not follow the conventions strictly, it is considered as a
pastoral elegy in which the deceased person and the poet are depicted as
shepherds. In one sense Lincoln was the shepherd of the American people in
wartime and his loss left the north in the position of a flock without a
leader. As in traditional elegies, Nature mourns Lincoln’s death along with
people.
This poem also makes reference to the problems
of modern times in its brief shadowy depictions of civil war. Though this is a
public poem with private symbols, Whitman tried to determine the best way to
mourn the loss of a great leader in the modern world. Unlike classical elegies
this poem is simple and modern without too many allusions. Similarly, there is
a shift in language. In the first few stanzas the language is formal, even
archaic filled with exhortations and rhetorical devices. By the end, much of
the ceremoniousness has been stripped away. Eventually the poet simply leaves
behind a sprig of lilac and ceases from song with philosophical resignation.
Though the form is elegiac, it also contains
elements found in Operatic music. Nature’s mourning the death of a great leader
is seen when Lincoln’s body was sent from Washington to Spring field. Not only
men and women but natural objects salute the departed leader.
This poem shows Whitman’s love Abraham Lincoln
and his deep grief over the death of soldiers in American Civil War. The poet
used three private or personal symbols with complex meanings to reveal his
feelings and thoughts. Private symbols are those whose significance the writers
generate for themselves. Whitman’s symbols are mostly private and personal. The
lilac symbolizes reverence for the memory of Lincoln. Whitman’s symbols are unique
which are meant for all people of all times and which evoke emotions and
feelings for understanding the significance of his poetry.
The green
heart-shaped green leaves reveal the unadulterated feelings which come out from
the heart of man. The season of spring symbolizes recurrence of every existence
after its temporary extinction. It indicates recurring memory of Lincoln and
the immortality of the great soul. The Western Star, Venus, is a complex symbol
which symbolizes a lofty leader, Lincoln. It also represents a heavenly body
having a mystic relationship with terrestrial beings. The hermit-thrush is shy
and withdrawn and pours out melodious songs from the recesses of the
swamp. The bird symbolizes the poet and
the bird’s song tallies with the voice of the poet’s spirit.
The funeral
procession of Lincoln’s corpse symbolizes a spiritual journey towards
understanding death. It begins in sorrow and gloom and ends in joy and serenity
of spirit and acceptance of death as the happy ending of life. Grass, a
recurring symbol in Whitman’s poetry, symbolizes democracy and the miracle and
mystery of the life and nature. The word “I” in Whitman’s poetry symbolizes the
whole of humanity at large, human beings of all places and beings. This poem is
published in the volume “Drum-taps”. The very title evokes the American war
scene associated with the sounds of drums, bombs, clatter of weapons and
bloodshed.
This elegy was divided into four cycles: the first cycle contains first four stanzas. The second cycle has stanzas from fifth to ninth. The third cycle has stanzas from tenth to thirteenth. The fourth cycle has stanzas from fourteenth to sixteenth.
The first
section of the poem comprising four stanzas present the setting of the poem. As
the spring returns the lilacs blossom and the planet Venus drooped in the
western sky. The powerful Western Star was covered by black murk in the tearful
night. The poet mourns “The loss of him I love.” He is powerless and helpless
because the cloud around him “will not free my soul”. The poet breaks off a
small branch of lilac bush with heart-shaped leaves. The solitary thrush like a
secluded hermit sings a song of its inmost grief. It sings “death’s outlet song
of life” The first section introduces three principal symbols of the poem-the
lilac, the star and the bird. They are woven into a poetic and dramatic
pattern. Lilacs are associated with recurring spring, a symbolic resurrection.
Its heart-shaped leaves indicate love. The everblooming lilacs bring out the
memories of Lincoln and the western star hidden in dark clouds portended some
future tragic event and made the poet feel sad and helpless. The bird is the
symbol of reconciliation with death and is its song is the soul’s voice. The
bird’s tragic song of death,” the song of the bleeding throat” represents the
poet’s own mourning of Lincoln’s death. The phrase “Death’s outlet song of life” indicates
that out of death will come renewed life. Lilac’s purple color is a symbol of
crucifixion or sacrifice and violent ending of Lincoln’s life.
The second
section from fifth to ninth stanzas describe the journey of Lincoln’s coffin
through natural scenery and industrial cities representing the diverse facets
of American life. The thrush’s song in section four is a prelude to the journey
of the coffin which will “pass over the breast of the spring”, through wheat
fields, orchards, woods and through cities. But “in the midst of life we are in
death” as the Book of Common Prayer says. The cities are draped in black and
the “crape-veiled women” mourn and salute the dead. Somber faces, solemn voices
and mournful dirges and dim-lit churches with tolling bells mark the progress of
the journey. The land seems dark and covered with dark clouds.
The poet brings forth blossoms not for Lincoln
alone but for all men who sacrificed their lives in the civil war. He chants a
song “for you, O sane and sacred death” and offers flowers to “the coffins all
of you, O death”. The poet addresses the star, “Now I know what you must have
meant”. Whitman imagines that the star is full of woe until it vanished “in the
netherward black of night.” The poet thinks that the dim western star foretold
him about the impending death of Lincoln in advance as the star disappeared
behind the dark enveloping cloud. The poet’s soul sank with grief on seeing the
star.
Whitman
calls upon bird to continue singing. The poet lingered on held by the evening
star, “my departing comrade.” The star is identified with Lincoln and the poet
is under the influence of his personal grief for his beloved dead leader and is
not able to perceive the spiritual existence of Lincoln after death. The song
of the thrush makes the poet aware of the deathless and spiritual existence of
Lincoln.
In the third
cycle of the poem from 10th to 13th stanzas, the poet
wonders about how he shall sing “for the large sweet soul that has gone.” And
how he shall compose his tribute” for the dead one I loved.” In a poetic way he
says that the sea winds from East and West meeting on the prairies along with
the poet’s song will “perfume the grave of him I love.” Later he wishes to decorate the walls of
Lincoln’s burial chamber with natural and diverse scenes of American landscape
like pictures of growing spring, the sunset glories of April, the pale green
leaves of the trees, fresh sweet grass, the flowing river with wind-swept
waves, the distant hill ranges, and with city dense with dwellings and chimney
stacks, busy workshops, and workmen returning home ward. The gentle purple morn
with soft breeze, the summer afternoon and the star-lit night shining over
cities reveal the pictures of the urban landscape. In short “all the scenes of life.” The body
and soul of America will be painted on the tomb such as the beauties of
Manhattan spires as well as the shores of Ohio and Missouri rivers and “all the
varied and ample land.” This shows Lincoln’s love for American landscape and
American people. The poet admires the natural as well as the crowded urban
landscape if America which made that country a democratic, prosperous and
developed nation.
Th gray brown bird is singing from the swamps
its “loud human song of woe”. The song has a liberating effect on the poet’s
soul although the star still holds him as does the mastering odor of the lilac.
In this cycle the description of natural objects and phenomena indicates the
breadth of Lincoln’s vision- the purple dawn, delicious eve, and welcome night-
suggest the continuous cycle of the day which in turn symbolizes Lincoln’s
immortality. The language is quite lyrical, poetic and emotional.
Stanzas from
14 to 16 comprise a re-instatement of the earlier themes and symbols of the
poem in a perspective of immortality. The poet remembers how “a cloud with a
long black trail” appeared one evening and suddenly made him aware of death. He
walked between “the knowledge of death and the thought of death”. He listened
to the bird’s song of “the carol of death” which praises Death as lovely,
soothing and delicate. The fathomless universe is adored for “life and joy” and
“sweet love”. Amidst this spectacle throbbing with life and joy he looks upon
death as an integral part of creation. Death is described as a “dark mother”
always gliding near with soft feet. To her the bird sings a song of “fullest
welcome”. Death is a strong deliveress to whom “the body gratefully nestles”.
The bird’s song is the spiritual ally of the poet. As the bird sings the poet sees a vision of the battle, corpses and “debris of all slain soldiers”. These dead soldiers are happy in their resting places but their parents and relatives continue to suffer because they have lost them. The suffering is not of the dead but of the living. The coffin has now reached the end of its journey. It passes the visions “the song of the hermit bird” and the “tallying song of the poet’s soul”. Death’s outlet song is heard sinking and yet bursting with joy. The joyful psalm fills the earth and heaven with joy. As the coffin passes the poet salutes it reminding himself that the lilac blooming in the dooryard will return every spring. The coffin has reached its resting place in “the fragrant pines and the cedars dark and dim”. The star, the bird and the lilac join with the poet as he bids good-bye to Lincoln, “his comrade, the dead I loved so well”.
The poet’s
realization of immortality of the soul through the emotional conflict of
personal loss is the principal theme of this great poem, which is a symbolic
dramatization of the poet’s grief and his ultimate reconciliation with the
truths of life and death. It also deals with persistence of life in spite of
pains and sufferings. The images of bustling cities such as “the sun”, “the
stars” and “the hermit bird” remind us of life’s continuance. Just like in
other elegies this ends with a sense of reconciliation and spiritual
understanding of death as an integral part of life.
8th July, 2022 Somaseshu Gutala
