A Song for the Little Man

The first thing that truly grabs my attention when reading “A Song for Occupations” is Whitman’s attempt to relieve the aggrandized ‘little man.’  In other words, Whitman essentially proclaims in this section of the poem that “Hey man, if you think you amount to nothing, then I’m right there amounting to nothing with you.”  He manages to bring everyone to equal grounds, and essentially says that whatever your “occupation” or niche may be in life, it is no greater or worse than any other to him.  I feel as though Whitman is once again taking on that “kosmic” role by attempting to place himself in a universal light in which he encompasses all.  Not to say that he doesn’t (mentally speaking) but this section of Leaves of Grass further emphasizes concepts brought forth in “Song of Myself” and reintroduces pivotal motifs in reference to light and dark, the sun, children, nature (of course) and most importantly the idea of touch proceeding sight.

In regards to how this particular poem changes over the course of Whitman’s multiple versions, it seems to be that what alters most is the title.  In the 1856 version it becomes “Poem of The Daily Work of The Workmen and Workwomen of These States”  but in the rest of the editions, I simply could not find it!  Granted, I could have looked a lot harder but Whitman SIGNIFICANTLY expands (substance wise) in his later versions, and it is hard to note where this particular poem drifted off to.  Although it doesn’t seem to necessarily directly correspond to another section from his later works, unless one is willing to abstractly view Walt’s “O this” “O that” rampage in the chants to “Song of Occupation” seeing as he similarly mentions men and women of all ages and backgrounds, and even so kindly includes inanimate objects.  Or maybe I’m reaching too far to draw this conclusion on the basis that I could not find the poem... damn your brilliance Whitman, as if I wasn’t lost in translation already.