I Am He That Aches with Love

I Am He That Aches with Love - meaning Summary

Longing as Universal Force

The speaker asserts an aching, amorous identity and frames personal desire as a universal force. Love is presented as akin to physical attraction: an impulse drawing bodies and minds together. The poem links individual longing to a broader, almost cosmic connectivity, suggesting the self’s body extends its reach toward everyone encountered. This concise statement reflects Whitman’s recurring interest in sensuality, empathy, and human connection within Leaves of Grass.