No Labor-saving Machine
No Labor-saving Machine - meaning Summary
Modest Legacy of Song
Whitman presents a speaker who denies grand achievements or material legacies. He admits to having made no discoveries, wealth, public deeds, or canonical books. Instead he offers small, personal songs — "carols" — meant to live briefly in the air and reach comrades and lovers. The poem emphasizes humility, ordinary human connection, and the value of intimate, fleeting expressions over monumental fame.
Read Complete AnalysesNO labor-saving machine, Nor discovery have I made; Nor will I be able to leave behind me any wealthy bequest to found a hospital or library, Nor reminiscence of any deed of courage, for America, Nor literary success, nor intellect—nor book for the book-shelf; Only a few carols, vibrating through the air, I leave, For comrades and lovers.
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