Leaves of Grass, Part 340 summary
Part 340 of 358 · Book 5: Calamus · 1 min to read the part
In My 71St Year, the speaker looks back on more than seventy years of change, grief, strong passions, and war, comparing himself to an exhausted soldier who still answers roll call. His living response and continued salute place survival and acknowledgment of a higher Officer at the center of this brief reflection.
What happens
- The speaker marks his survival beyond seventy through change, loss, and sorrow.
- He recalls his parents’ deaths, personal upheavals, intense passions, and the war of ’63 and ’4.
- He compares himself to a broken soldier worn down by marching or battle.
- At twilight, he pictures himself hobbling but still answering roll call and saluting a supreme Officer.
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In this part
What to notice
The closing line joins endurance with continued acknowledgment of supreme authority. It completes the comparison between the aging speaker and a soldier remaining at his post.
Quick check
What does the speaker compare himself to?
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