Nearing Departure by Walt Whitman
The work presents an introspective meditation on the inevitability of leaving and the uncertainty of the journey ahead. It opens with the speaker confronting an internal gloom and an undefined dread that heralds imminent departure from a familiar life. The text reflects on the unpredictable nature of existence; the speaker resolves to journey across vast landscapes without knowing the destination or the duration of the voyage. Throughout, there is an acceptance of mortality marked by the possibility that even the act of singing, a metaphor for life or expression, may abruptly end. The work questions if all poetic and musical efforts can ultimately capture the essence of the self, yet it finds solace in the very fact of existence and the manifest presence of the soul. Themes of transformation, the transient nature of life, and the courage required to face the unknown converge, suggesting that the act of departing—whether physically or spiritually—is both a profound culmination and a pivotal beginning for self-realization and renewal.
By Walt Whitman · First published 1855 · Genre: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Existential Literature · 139 words
First lines
1. As nearing departure, / As the time draws nigh, glooming, a cloud, / A dread beyond, of I know not what, darkens me.
2. I shall _go_ forth, / I shall traverse the States -- but I cannot tell whither or how long; / Perhaps soon, some day or night while I am singing, my voice will suddenly cease.
3. O book and chant! must all then amount to but this? / Must we barely arrive at this beginning of me? . / And yet it is enough, O soul! / O soul! we have positively appeared -- that is enough.
What this Textopian page supports
Nearing Departure is listed on Textopian as a poem by Walt Whitman, dated 1855 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Walt Whitman
- Date: 1855 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Existential Literature, Transcendental Poetry, Travel Literature
- Length: 139 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Nearing Departure by Walt Whitman
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Poetry — The work employs free verse and poetic structure characteristic of Walt Whitman's style.
- Lyric Poetry — The text conveys personal emotions and introspective reflections typical of lyric poetry.
- Existential Literature — Themes of mortality, departure, and meaning reflect an engagement with existential concerns.
- Transcendental Poetry — The focus on the soul and inner journey aligns with transcendental ideals of self-discovery and spiritual exploration.
Tags
mortality · transcendence · nature · reflection · journey · existentialism · introspection · passage · spirituality · philosophy · lyrical · humanism