Walt Whitman: I Saw in Louisiana a Live Oak Growing - Essay Example

Walt Whitman: “I saw in Louisiana a Live Oak Growing” Although the poem has only thirteen lines, it has a redoubtable symbolism in virtually all of its lines. It has an informal stanza pattern and irregular rhythmic form, but still manages to pass a strong message of love. Even so, the meaning of Walt Whitman’s poem “I saw in Louisiana a Live Oak Growing” depends on the context, and perspective of the reader. In the main, the message of love and companionship is dominant, and the poet cleverly relates himself to the live oak tree.

Although the oak was oak was rough and robust, it had joyous leaves. The tree reminds the poet of his lonely self. Even so, the difference between the two was the joyous nature of the tree as compared to the poet who was desolate and without a companion. The real tree characterizes his life and is a metaphor for his feelings. Through a comparison of the two, it is apparent that the poet compares man and nature, and shows that while nature (tree) can prosper without the help of other natural beings, man requires companionship.

The poet says that the tree ‘utters’ its leaves (Whitman 1). This linguistic style is entirely suitable on a literal level. At a literal level, it means to sprout, or to produce, because it is a “live-oak growing”. The oak tree is both alive and growing, and it produces life, but the poet only seems alive, but not living. ‘Lusty’ signifies that it is healthy, strong, vigorous, and corpulent. The use of personification is evident in this instance because the poet gives the tree human traits.

The word ‘rude’ also personifies human traits, specifically the stubbornness of people, and this intensifies the evident comparison between nature and human. The poet affirms that the oak tree “made me think of myself” and this reminds the poet of a previous time that steadiness and vitality were evident traits. The poem conveys a simple but strong message that defines human weakness in the inability to maintain passable social relationships. Work Cited Whitman, Walt. I Saw in Louisiana A Live Oak Growing.

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