Walt Whitman is recognized by most authorities as one of the greatest of American poets. His most important poem is "Song of Myself." The sheer length of the poem sets it apart from most other works ; it is over 1300 lines long. Critics have been impressed by the richness of Whitman\u27s language and imagery. The poem is divided into fifty-two sections and a number of these contain his catalogs; these vary in length from a modest fifteen lines (Section 8), to a grand catalog of over one hundred and sixty lines (Section 33). Catalogs as a poetic device are not new ; however, Whitman\u27s use of them to demonstrate the essential unity of the universe amid its seeming endless diversity was unique. Three catalog sections form the subject of this paper : 8, 15 and 33. Together they display a progression of imagery which moves from a depiction of everyday American scenes, in Section 8, to Section 33, where the poet\u27s images become markedly heterogeneous and his imagination takes flight, "speeding through space" and even altering time itself as he says, "I am the clock myself." In reading the catalogs, one is swept along as the cornucopia of images accumulate ; some critics have compared the experience to watching a film. Whitman has been seen as a uniquely American poet. However, while many of his images depict the American landscape and people, in the final analysis he transcends his time and nation. People all over the world respond to his verse because it speaks directly to their hearts. It is his wider humanity that raises him to the level of a world poet. The goal of this paper is to serve as an introduction to an important part of Whitman\u27s verse and to the poet himself. "I am large, I contain multitudes.
