A Glimpse

“A Noiseless Patient Spider” by Walt Whitman (1868)

This particular poem was originally part of a larger work of poetry titled “Whispers of a Heavenly Death” published in The Broadway, A London Magazine. Just as “A Glimpse” is about human connection amidst noise and chaos, “A Noiseless Patient Spider” is about trying to make space for oneself in the world. The work parallels the act of a spider making its web, throwing out one thread after another, with an individual’s soul trying to make connections in the wide universe. The poem centers on physical connection and individuality.

“O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman (1855)

“O Me! O Life!” was initially published in the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass. Whitman’s speaker opens by questioning the purpose of life amidst chaotic and depressing scenes and an overall lack of hope. However, it then ends with an anthem to individuality and perseverance, maintaining that each person has something to contribute to the world that only they are capable of giving.

“America" by Walt Whitman (1888)

Whitman’s “America” reads as an ode to the nation. It first appeared in The New York Herald on February 11, 1888.