Francis Espiritu

ENGL 48B

March 8 2011

Whitman Journal

Author Quote: : "I too many and many a time cross'd the river of old, Watched the Twelfth-month sea-gulls, saw them high in the air floating with motionless wings, oscillating their bodies, Saw how the glistening yellow lit up parts of their bodies and left the rest in strong shadow." (Whitman 22)

Internet Quote: It describes the ferry trip across the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The poem specifically addresses future readers who will look back on it, and the ferry ride, years hence. (Wikipedia Search Crossing Brooklyn Ferry)

Summary: Whitman pretty much reminisces on the days he would ride the Brooklyn Ferry and would see many things. One thing he describes is the seagulls and how majestic they seemed to be; even in the cold.

Personal Opinion: I think that when Whitman reminisces and discusses the birds that he sees, I think that it serves as more than a description of what one could witness when riding on the Brooklyn Ferry even today. I think that the birds he reminisces on serves as his youth and how he once was. As children we tend to be more free and do not have a care in the world of our surroundings; the only thing that really matters to us is that we live our lives without any worry. I think that Whitman is expressing the longing for his youth in which he possibly sees himself as being the seagull, free. As stated in the internet quote, Whitman wrote the poem for future generations, and it is possibly a message saying that we should always enjoy our youth and very lives; and never take it for granted.