Leaves of Grass, Part 159 summary
Part 159 of 358 · Book 5: Calamus · 3 min to read the part
In Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun, the speaker asks for rural solitude, relief from war, and a quiet family life, but recognizes that the city still holds him. He reverses his request and chooses Manhattan’s crowds, varied pleasures, and military scenes, including exhausted soldiers and the wounded.
What happens
- The speaker asks for sunshine, crops, animals, quiet nights, and a garden where he can walk alone.
- He imagines marriage, a child, a rural home, and private songs as relief from excitement and war.
- He admits that the city keeps him attached through its faces and enriches his inner life.
- He rejects his requests for rural peace and asks instead for Manhattan’s streets, companions, and constant encounters.
- He embraces urban entertainment and wartime crowds, including departing troops, worn returning soldiers, and wounded people.
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What does the speaker choose in the second section?
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