Customer Reviews

Whitman: Poems (Everyman's Library Pocket Poets)

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Any selection of a great poet is going to leave any fan of that poet disappointed. With Whitman this is complicated by the 1855 LEAVES OF GRASS with the 1891-92 LEAVES OF GRASS. Many prefer the 1855 version of "Song of Myself." This collection uses the 1891-92 versions of the poems. I will confess that I prefer the later versions in almost every instance. For instance, I much prefer the later version of the accounting of the John Paul Jones victory over the British in "Song of Myself" XXXV.

The poems that I particularly regretted not being included in this are "Song of the Open Road" and "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." There are others, but those are two I often read. But to be fair, most of Whitman's great work is contained in two poems, the magisterial "Song of Myself" and the passionate "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry." I've never warmed up to such old chestnuts as "I Hear America Singing" and "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd," but I can and have read "Song of Myself" and "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" countless times. In fact, the reason I wanted a highly portable, but attractive edition of Whitman's poems was so that I could carry it about with me. One of the few books that I've come very close to wearing out (and I treat my books with great care) is the Library of America edition of Whitman's poetry and prose. But it simply doesn't fit into a messenger bag. This lovely little Everyman edition does.

So while this slender little volume doesn't quite have my ideal collection of Whitman's poems, it does at least have the most essential. And the book itself is lovely and inviting. I heartily recommend it to anyone desiring a choice selection of Whitman's poetry to carry with them either into the woods or onto a commuter train.