by W. Diane Van Zwol

Created on: July 20, 2008   Last Updated: February 19, 2011

Where Are The Young Children? I Hear America Singing, by Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman (1819-1892) wrote this wonderful piece of poetry, in free verse.

Reading through it, one must ask where are the children, who should be singing too?

"I Hear America Singing

I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics - each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong;

The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat - the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench - the hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter's song - the ploughboy's, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother - or of the young wife at work - or of the girl sewing or washing Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day - At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs." (1)

Where are the young children, who should be singing too?

In total, there is only one reference to a girl, but she is one who is sewing or washing, so obviously this is not a young child. Why are there no other children singing? Is it because this is only about the singing and the songs of people who are old enough to work?

Where are they singing?

It would appear that Whitman cannot be hearing all of these people singing the same song, or singing, at the same time. They are singing individually and collectively, in Whitman's soul. Each one must have his or her individual soul song, related to his or her own task.

Why are they singing?

When one reads through this poem, it appears that each one is singing, because he or she is enjoying his or her work. The song, in each instance, appears to be the song that is appropriate for that particular kind of employment.

But is there something else that is happening?

Is this a song of freedom, in some sense, where America, as a whole, has the freedom to sing? Does this have something to do with independence? Quite possibly.

What are they celebrating?

Perhaps the word, carol gives us a clue, as to what is really happening.

The word carol dates back to the fourteenth century, where it can simply mean a song of joy, or mirth. This is one possibility. It is also used to depict an old, round dance with singing, which is probably not the

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