Leaves of Grass, Part 154 summary
Part 154 of 358 · Book 5: Calamus · 1 min to read the part
In As I Toiled Through Virginia’s Woods, the speaker discovers an unknown soldier’s grave beneath a tree and pauses over a brief inscription of comradeship. The encounter becomes a lasting memory, returning suddenly whether the speaker is alone or among people in a street.
What happens
- Walking through autumn woods in Virginia, the speaker notices a soldier’s grave beneath a tree.
- The speaker describes a fatal wound and a burial during a retreat, when the soldiers stop briefly at midday.
- A tablet nailed to the tree praises the dead soldier’s courage, caution, loyalty, and companionship.
- The speaker reflects for a long time and then continues wandering.
- The grave and its inscription return suddenly to the speaker’s mind across changing seasons and settings.
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In this part
What to notice
The tribute joins praise of the soldier’s character with personal affection. Its repetition makes the remembered words central to the speaker’s experience.
Quick check
Where is the tablet bearing the soldier’s tribute?
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