Marti and Dario 7/6/13

Walt Whitman utilized a revolutionary style in his poetry. Before his poems, poetry generally followed fairly strict rules. Meter, rhythm, lines, and rhyme were all important and often followed very rigid structures. Whitman wrote poetry that focused on the emotions and imagery of poetry, ignoring the strict structural rules that were usually included in poetry of the time. Although his early critics balked at the way his poetry was composed, he became instrumental in the way that poetry has been constructed since Leaves of Grass was published. His choice of passionate imagery and deep emotion overcame the need for tight rhyme and structure.

Many poets have been inspired by Whitman to write intense poetry of their own. In many cases, his works have transcended the globe, inspiring international writers to invent their own ways to compose poetry in their own languages. One such poet is Jose Marti, a Cuban writer, possibly best known for the poem “Guantanamera.” In this work, Marti reflects on his life and the way in which he has found the simple things to be the most important, writing “And before I die I wish / To fling my verses from my soul” (Marti 4-5). This is similar to Whitman's opening line from “Song of Myself,” in which he wrote “I celebrate myself, and sing myself” (Whitman 1). Even from the beginning of the two works, this is a striking similarity between the two poems. Both poets go on to write about finding simplicity and comfort in all of the things around them and what they have experienced.

The Nicaraguan poet Ruben Dario was also heavily influenced by Whitman, to the point that he even named him in his poem “To Roosevelt.” In the poem “Blazon,” Dario describes a swan in detail, then describes the swan as a poet, “who, dying, rhymes the soul in his song” (“Blazon” 24). The swan is reminiscent of much of the nature imagery in Whitman's work, especially the hawk in “Song of Myself”. The hawk “swoops by and accuses me, he complains of my gab and my loitering” (Whitman 1-2). Both birds have been personified by the authors and reflect the poets and these birds reflect the poets themselves.

Works Cited

Dario, Ruben. "Blazon." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner. Shorter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 692-93. Print.

- -. "To Roosevelt." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner. Shorter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 692-93. Print.

Marti, Jose. "Guantanamera." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner. Shorter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 681-82. Print.

Whitman, Walt. "Song of Myself." The Norton Anthology of World Literature. Ed. Martin Puchner. Shorter 3rd ed. Vol. 2. New York: Norton, 2013. 648-53. Print.