Analysis of Spain 1873-'74

Walt Whitman 1819 (West Hills) – 1892 (Camden)



OUT of the murk of heaviest clouds,
   Out of the feudal wrecks, and heap'd-up skeletons of kings,
   Out of that old entire European debris--the shatter'd mummeries,
   Ruin'd cathedrals, crumble of palaces, tombs of priests,
   Lo! Freedom's features, fresh, undimm'd, look forth--the same
         immortal face looks forth;
   (A glimpse as of thy mother's face, Columbia,
   A flash significant as of a sword,
   Beaming towards thee.)

Nor think we forget thee, Maternal;
   Lag'd'st thou so long? Shall the clouds close again upon thee?     10
   Ah, but thou hast Thyself now appear'd to us--we know thee;
   Thou hast given us a sure proof, the glimpse of Thyself;
   Thou waitest there, as everywhere, thy time.


Scheme AXAXXXXXB XBBXX
Poetic Form
Metre 110111001 11010101110011 1111010010010101 10010101100111 11010111101 010111 011111010100 0101001101 10011 111011010 111111101101011 1111110111111 111010110111 11111011
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 718
Words 114
Sentences 6
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 9, 5
Lines Amount 14
Letters per line (avg) 37
Words per line (avg) 8
Letters per stanza (avg) 260
Words per stanza (avg) 58
Font size:
 

Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

36 sec read
80

Walt Whitman

Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. more…

All Walt Whitman poems | Walt Whitman Books

35 fans

Discuss this Walt Whitman poem analysis with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add this poem analysis to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Spain 1873-'74" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/38151/spain-1873-%2774>.

    Become a member!

    Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

    April 2024

    Poetry Contest

    Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
    3
    days
    12
    hours
    18
    minutes

    Special Program

    Earn Rewards!

    Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

    Browse Poetry.com

    Quiz

    Are you a poetry master?

    »
    From which London landmark did Wordsworth celebrate the view in his poem beginning: "Earth has not any thing to show more fair..."
    A The Tower of London
    B Waterloo Sunset
    C Hampstead Heath
    D Westminster Bridge