Leaves of Grass, Part 291 summary
Part 291 of 358 · Book 5: Calamus · 1 min to read the part
In Questions to My Seventieth Year, the speaker addresses the approaching year as a ghostly presence and asks whether it brings renewal, illness, peace, or death. The questions remain unanswered, leaving the speaker between hope for change and fear of continued weakness.
What happens
- The speaker addresses the approaching year as a mysterious, ghostly presence.
- The speaker asks whether it brings vitality, death, physical decline, or peaceful conditions.
- The closing questions contrast renewed movement, an abrupt end, and remaining old with a damaged, repetitive voice.
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In this part
What to notice
The year becomes an unknown presence that may sustain or end life. This question establishes the uncertainty that governs every possibility.
Quick check
How does the speaker present the approaching year?
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