Christopherson, Be Still and Listen

Whitman's "Song of Myself" is entirely about being still and listening to what one is truly yet subconciously meditating on, and hearing what one really is saying to oneself. Yet I chose to focus in on Chant 5 because I think it focuses extremely close on this theory of being fully aware of one's "senses". I've compared it with Emily Dickinson's "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" because this poem also places much importance on senses and on being still in order to connect with oneself. In the 3rd line of Whitman's chant 5 he repeats the word treading, which we will see Dickinson also repeat. This implies to me the practice of meditation, like "treading" on one's thoughts. He is suggesting meditation since when one meditates one sort of mulls over their thoughts. They listen to their innerself and repeat thoughts to themselves. Meditation allows people to center the mind and soul. Whitman focused on this sort of self silence and "listening". In her poem, Dickinson does two things that suggest quiet self focus. First she repeats the words treading and beating which is a subtle hint at meditation. When someone meditates they repeat a word over and over to themselves to focus and quiet their mind. She also uses words that suggest stillness and quietness like silence, soul, solitary. Dickinson in her poem suggests giving the soul consideration, to focus on something and silence your mind. Most of the time we are so busy and wrapped up in life that we forget to listen to what our body, mind, and soul is really trying to communicate to us. Whitman and Dickinson both poetically push for people to be still and allow theirs souls to examine themselves.