On the Beach at Night (Poem by Walter Whitman)

"On the Beach at Night" by Walt Whitman is a profound exploration of human existence in the context of the cosmos. Whitman skillfully juxtaposes ...
Famous Poem

On the Beach at Night
By Walter Whitman

On the beach at night,
Stands a child with her father,
Watching the east, the autumn sky.

Up through the darkness,
While ravening clouds, the burial clouds, in black masses spreading,
Lower sullen and fast athwart and down the sky,
Amid a transparent clear belt of ether yet left in the east,
Ascends large and calm the lord-star Jupiter,
And nigh at hand, only a very little above,
Swim the delicate sisters the Pleiades.

From the beach the child holding the hand of her father,
Those burial-clouds that lower victorious soon to devour all,
Watching, silently weeps.

Weep not, child,
Weep not, my darling,
With these kisses let me remove your tears,
The ravening clouds shall not long be victorious,
They shall not long possess the sky, they devour the stars only in apparition,
Jupiter shall emerge, be patient, watch again another night, the Pleiades shall emerge,
They are immortal, all those stars both silvery and golden shall shine out again,
The great stars and the little ones shall shine out again, they endure,
The vast immortal suns and the long-enduring pensive moons shall again shine.

Then dearest child mournest thou only for jupiter?
Considerest thou alone the burial of the stars?

Something there is,
(With my lips soothing thee, adding I whisper,
I give thee the first suggestion, the problem and indirection,)
Something there is more immortal even than the stars,
(Many the burials, many the days and nights, passing away,)
Something that shall endure longer even than lustrous Jupiter
Longer than sun or any revolving satellite,
Or the radiant sisters the Pleiades.

Poem Analysis:

Walt Whitman, the celebrated American poet, often delved into themes of nature, human existence, and the cosmos. In his poem "On the Beach at Night," Whitman invites readers to contemplate the vastness of the universe, the transient nature of earthly troubles, and the enduring essence of life beyond the stars.

  1. The Scene by the Seashore: The poem opens with a scene by the beach at night, where a child stands with her father. Whitman masterfully sets the stage with vivid imagery, describing the autumn sky and the celestial bodies that adorn it. The choice of a beach as the setting symbolizes the liminal space between the known and the unknown, the earthly and the celestial, and the transient and the eternal.
  2. Celestial Observations: As the poem progresses, Whitman turns our attention to the night sky. He describes the "ravening clouds" that seem to devour the stars as they spread across the sky. Amid this celestial drama, he spotlights Jupiter, the "lord-star," and the delicate Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. These celestial references underscore the grandeur of the cosmos and the insignificance of human concerns in the face of the universe's vastness.
  3. The Child's Tears: Whitman introduces an emotional layer by revealing that the child weeps while observing the celestial display. The child's tears are a poignant reminder of human vulnerability and the capacity for empathy. Her tears also serve as a contrast to the celestial immensity, highlighting the human connection to the natural world.
  4. Comforting Words: The father, in a tender and comforting manner, addresses the child's grief. He reassures her that the "ravening clouds" will not permanently obscure the stars. He offers solace by suggesting that Jupiter and the Pleiades will reemerge, and the stars will shine brightly once again. This paternal reassurance conveys a message of hope and resilience in the face of temporary hardships.
  5. Immortality Beyond the Stars: In the concluding section, Whitman delves into the concept of immortality. He suggests that while the stars may appear to be "buried" or obscured by clouds, there is something more enduring than the celestial bodies. He hints at the existence of an immortal essence that surpasses the lifespan of stars, moons, and planets. This idea transcends the physical realm and delves into the realm of metaphysical and spiritual immortality.

"On the Beach at Night" by Walt Whitman is a profound exploration of human existence in the context of the cosmos. Whitman skillfully juxtaposes the fleeting nature of earthly troubles and human emotions with the enduring magnificence of the universe. The poem encourages readers to ponder the eternal and the transient, finding solace in the idea that there is something more enduring than the celestial bodies that grace the night sky. Ultimately, Whitman's poem invites us to contemplate the vastness of the cosmos and the enduring essence of life itself.

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