January 2019 Poem: “I sing the body electric”
From Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass, the Small, Maynard imprint of 1904 (available on Google Books). This is the first poem I’m learning this year, part of a project to learn twelve great poems in 2019. I chose it from among recommendations I received from folks because of the stark contrast between its sensual, joyful language and the often prosaic, banal language of the law. I chose this particular version (one of many available) for no particular reason. I just needed a place to start. I will not memorize the whole thing, though, as it far exceeds my 50-line target. Read More …