{"id":51094,"date":"2014-12-15T12:00:08","date_gmt":"2014-12-15T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=51094"},"modified":"2015-05-05T21:27:11","modified_gmt":"2015-05-05T20:27:11","slug":"walt-whitman-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2014\/12\/walt-whitman-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"Walt Whitman Returns . . ."},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThis is what you shall do:<\/em>
\nLove the earth and sun and the animals,<\/em>
\nDespise riches, . . . \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

I.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Again! . . . Again!
\nHas nothing spilled from hate\u2019s fiery cauldron?
\nTolls unheeded:
\nBattlefield gore: Gettysburg, Manassas, Chancellorsville, Vicksburg?<\/p>\n

More than places!
\nSacred lands, defiled!
\nUnshaven old men, pimpled-scarred youth,
\nBlue-grey uniforms now uniform in blood,
\nBodies lying in heaps . . . or alone,
\nLimbless, moaning, seared souls,
\nDead!<\/p>\n

Posterity captured:
\nRifles in hand, pistols gripped, swords unsheathed,
\nBlood-stained rocks, smoldering earth, shattered trees.
\nFlies gathering to feast,
\nBuzzing amid charnel,
\nReflexively choosing choice sites.<\/p>\n

II.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brave soldiers march to cadenced drums.
\nFlags wave,
\nArtillery towed,
\nMedaled-generals salute,
\nParades!
\n\u201cCharades\u201d . . . I say!<\/p>\n

Battles forgotten,
\nTriumph\u2019s costs denied.
\nMusic and verse:<\/p>\n

\u201cMine eyes have seen the glory . . .\u201d
\n\u201cOh, I wish I was in the land of cotton \u2026
\n\u201cOnward Christian soldiers . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

And in the background,
\nIn shadows,
\nTime unchanged:<\/p>\n

\u201cSteal away, steal away; Steal away to . . .
\n\u201cDeeeeppp river, Lord! My home is over Jordan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIllusions . . . delusions,\u201d I say!
\nPodium, stage, pulpit,
\nPlatforms for death and destruction;
\nFoundations for domination.<\/p>\n

Ribbon-covered chests,
\nWhite-collared necks,
\nTop-hatted heads,
\nBlack-frocked dresses . . .
\nDainty lace collars.<\/p>\n

Arms raised:
\nIn praise,
\nSorrow,
\nPrayer,
\nPlaintive cries!<\/p>\n

How inadequate Periclean words,
\nUnfit for all times.
\nPreserving lies,
\nInspiring myths!
\nNurturing cultures of war,
\nCults of nations,
\nFood for empire!<\/p>\n

III.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you not see what I saw?
\nEndless rows of blood-stained sheets,
\nGaunt nurses placating life,
\nTears streaming from bedside widows
\nHollow-eyed children begging for bread.<\/p>\n

Charred houses,
\nBroken bridges,
\nShattered trees,
\nSmoldering carcasses,
\nStench like no other.<\/p>\n

Damn the cannon makers!
\nDamn the smelters making them!
\nDamn the voices cheering their firing!
\nGuiltless . . .
\nBlind to their sullied metal fruit,
\nDeaf to cries,
\nDistance from shot to crater
\nBuffering images,
\nGuarding conscience.<\/p>\n

Make them walk brimstone,
\nBreathe fumes of seared flesh,
\nBeg for mercy,
\nAsk respite from hot metal,
\nSeek relief from scorched earth.<\/p>\n

Make them know pain, suffering, death –
\nAvoided \u2013 escaped \u2013 denied,
\nHidden amidst comforts:<\/p>\n

Gilded rooms,
\nLeather chairs,
\nPolished tables,
\nSycophants:
\n\u201cSir!\u201d
\n\u201cNo, Sir!\u201d
\n\u201cYes, Sir!\u201d
\n\u201cMore, Sir?\u201d
\n\u201cSherry, Sir?\u201d<\/p>\n

IV.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What use conscience?
\nWhat value brain?
\nWhat function heart?
\nWhat glory courage . . .
\nIf ignored, denied, separated
\nFrom a silent human face.<\/p>\n

A face, once admired and prized,
\nBursting forth from a mother urging
\nHer swollen womb;
\nGrunting . . . screaming
\nUnfathomable mysteries,
\nBirthing life!
\nA face emerges!
\nIts future . . . inscribed.<\/p>\n

Tear down your crosses, crescents, and sacred stars –
\nExcuses for madness,
\nSalve for betrayal,
\nGloves for stained hands
\nVeils for truth.<\/p>\n

Fall upon your knees,
\nBeg forgiveness,
\nJudas!
\nFailed prophets!
\nFlawed angels!
\nGod pretenders!
\nStainers of time!<\/p>\n

Mortal art thou Man!
\nBlood, bone, sinew.
\nSeeker!
\nMind!
\nSpirit essence!<\/p>\n

V.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sing the song of life!
\nCast seeds upon the land,
\nPlant trees in barren hills,
\nWater fallow fields.<\/p>\n

Look to mountains,
\nForested woods,
\nDesert sands,
\nMirrored lakes.
\nGaze in wonder!<\/p>\n

Inhale air,
\nSip water,
\nBreak bread,
\nBehold skies;
\nAll else is vanity!<\/p>\n

Go now!
\nFind your place
\nAmidst chards.
\nScripted pasts,
\nVictim throngs,
\nFaded glories,
\nLeaden clouds.<\/p>\n

Go now!
\nWalk tortoise paths,
\nFollow hare tracks,
\nEat berries,
\nUrinate,
\nCreate streams – drops!
\nErase scars of war!<\/p>\n

All is sacred!
\nBehold grandeur,
\nFill senses with awe \u2013
\nFailing this,
\nKnow you never lived!<\/p>\n

At end of day,
\nEarth will accept your
\nCrumbled remains,
\nAnd . . . try again!
\nAnd you will have no choice!<\/p>\n

VI.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what you shall do:<\/em><\/p>\n

Love the earth and sun and the animals,<\/em>
\nDespise riches,<\/em>
\nGive alms to everyone that asks,<\/em>
\nStand up for the stupid and crazy, <\/em>
\nDevote your income and labor to others,<\/em>
\nHate tyrants, argue not concerning god, <\/em>
\nHave patience and indulgence toward the people,<\/em>
\nRe-examine all you have been told<\/em>
\nAt school or church or in any book,<\/em>
\nDismiss whatever insults your own soul;<\/em>
\nAnd your very flesh shall be a great poem.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>–Walt Whitman, Preface to Leaves of Grass<\/em> (1855)<\/p>\n

Comment:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) is my favorite poet \u2013 and in many ways, my favorite humanist. He witnessed the horrors of the American Civil War — its sights, sounds, and smells inspired his commitment to peace. But long before the War, his special senses gave voice and word to the changing world about him. He captured time and times!<\/p>\n

I find life in his every word — each line and verse, a sacred-clarion call to life! In his words – their pace, stridency, boldness – spring passionate observations, accusations, and visions of hope revealing uncommon and uncompromising courage and wisdom.<\/p>\n

I wondered what Walt Whitman would say if he appeared in our time? I know he would recognize the betrayal of history\u2019s lessons \u2013 humanity\u2019s continued infatuation with violence and war. He would scold us! Reprimand us! Remind us solutions are to be found in compassion and connection — not metal. I wrote a draft of this poem in hours the next morning and early day. I waited a few days, overwhelmed by my efforts to hear his voice, to channel his presence. It is best to rest when you awaken the dead. My words lack the power and grace of Walt Whitman; but I am consoled by the fact, my intention is good!<\/p>\n

******<\/p>\n

Dec 13 2014, <\/em><\/strong>9:49 a.m. –<\/em><\/strong> On this day, about this time, decades ago, my step-father, Stephen, as good a man as ever walked the earth, died in my arms. Among his final words: \u201c<\/em>How tragic so few have chances to live — to develop their talents. \u201c<\/em><\/p>\n

___________________________________<\/p>\n

Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D., a member of the TRANSCEND Network, is a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Hawaii, and past director of the World Health Organization Psychiatric Research Center in Honolulu. He is known nationally and internationally as a pioneer figure in the study of culture and psychopathology who challenged the ethnocentrism and racial biases of many assumptions, theories, and practices in psychology and psychiatry. In more recent years, he has been writing and lecturing on peace and social justice. He has published 15 edited books, and more than 250 articles, chapters, book reviews, and popular pieces. He can be reached at marsella@hawaii.edu<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Preface to Leaves of Grass (1855) – What Walt Whitman would say if he appeared in our time? I know he would recognize the betrayal of history\u2019s lessons \u2013 humanity\u2019s continued infatuation with violence and war. He would scold us! Reprimand us! Remind us solutions are to be found in compassion and connection \u2014 not metal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[182],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poetry-format"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51094","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51094"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51094\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51094"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51094"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51094"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}