To the States
To the States - meaning Summary
Political Wake-up Call
Whitman condemns political decay and civic sleepiness in the United States, portraying leaders and institutions as corrupted or failing. Using night and murk imagery he expresses disgust and disillusionment with the Capitol, President and Congress. Yet the closing lines turn to resolve: the nation will awaken together from apathy and corruption. The poem is a blunt call for collective vigilance and renewal rather than detailed policy critique.
Read Complete AnalysesWHY reclining, interrogating? Why myself and all drowsing? What deepening twilight! scum floating atop of the waters! Who are they, as bats and night-dogs, askant in the Capitol? What a filthy Presidentiad! (O south, your torrid suns! O north, your arctic freezings!) Are those really Congressmen? are those the great Judges? is that the President? Then I will sleep awhile yet—for I see that These States sleep, for reasons; (With gathering murk—with muttering thunder and lambent shoots, we all duly awake, South, north, east, west, inland and seaboard, we will surely awake.)
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