To a Stranger by Walt Whitman is a poem that explores the idea of human connection and the ways in which we relate to one another. The poem begins with the speaker addressing a stranger, or someone they have never met before, and expressing their desire to connect with them in some way.
Whitman uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to convey the sense of wonder and curiosity that the speaker feels towards the stranger. He writes, "I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd, / I stand and look at them long and long." This passage captures the sense of longing and curiosity that the speaker feels towards the stranger, as if they are observing an exotic and unknown creature.
Despite the fact that the speaker and the stranger are strangers, Whitman suggests that there is a deep sense of connection between them. He writes, "We are not enemies, we are not aliens, we are brothers and sisters." This line suggests that despite the fact that the speaker and the stranger are strangers, they are also deeply connected to one another as human beings.
Throughout the poem, Whitman uses various metaphors and symbols to convey the idea of human connection. He compares the stranger to a leaf, suggesting that they are both part of a larger, interconnected whole. He also compares the stranger to a "travelling shower," suggesting that they are both fleeting and temporary, but also essential to the larger ecosystem of life.
In the final stanza of the poem, Whitman returns to the theme of human connection and the ways in which we relate to one another. He writes, "I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self-contain'd, / I stand and look at them long and long." This passage captures the sense of longing and curiosity that the speaker feels towards the stranger, as if they are observing an exotic and unknown creature.
Overall, To a Stranger by Walt Whitman is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the idea of human connection and the ways in which we relate to one another. Through vivid imagery and descriptive language, Whitman conveys the sense of wonder and curiosity that the speaker feels towards the stranger, and suggests that despite our differences, we are all deeply connected as human beings.