Leaves of Grass, Reconciliation summary
Reconciliation of 358 · Book 5: Calamus · 1 min to read the chapter
In Reconciliation, the speaker imagines war and its violence fading from memory, then recognizes a dead enemy as equally divine and bends to kiss his face. The movement from a broad hope to a gentle physical act turns opposition into an acknowledgment of shared worth.
What happens
- The speaker praises a word and welcomes the thought that war and its violence must pass from memory.
- Death and Night appear as sisters whose hands gently cleanse the world.
- The speaker recognizes the dead enemy as a man with equal divinity.
- The speaker approaches the coffin, bends down, and lightly kisses the dead man's face.
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In this chapter
What to notice
The speaker places shared divinity above the division between enemies. This recognition gives the approaching kiss its meaning.
Quick check
What does the speaker do when he reaches the dead enemy?
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