The Walt Whitman Experience

To truly know Whitman is to delve into the depths of his very being in a feeble attempt to  understand things that cannot be taught, but rather felt.  When I think of Walt and the essence of his works (and thus the essence of his very being) I am often reminded of the Jimi Hendrix song “Are You Experienced?” in which Jimi seems to ask for the listener to grab hold of him in this ruthless journey called life as they sink into a realm deeper than that of the material world, a realm no doubt filled with touch, understanding, and most of all, experience...


If you can just get your mind together
Then come on across to me
We'll hold hands and then we'll watch the sunrise
From the bottom of the sea

But first, are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have

I know, I know you probably scream and cry
That your little world won't let you go
But who in your measly little world
Are you trying to prove that
You're made out of gold and, eh, can't be sold

So, are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Well, I have

Let me prove you...

Trumpets and violins I can hear in distance
I think they're calling our names
Maybe now you can't hear them, but you will
If you just take hold of my hand

Oh, but are you experienced?
Have you ever been experienced?
Not necessarily stoned, but beautiful...

Anyway to get to the point of this tangent, I feel as though analyzing Specimen Days is crucial when it comes to understanding Walt.  However, instead of blogging about a different one each week or so, I would enjoy focusing specifically on one that I have already chosen so I can tear it apart and analyze it to the nth degree.

I may never be able to fully comprehend the complicated maze that is Walt Whitman, but I shall nonetheless strive to take the journey with Jimi and him into the enlightened world of the experienced.