Have the elder races halted?
Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the seas?
We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
Nearly two months ago I made the mistake of writing about a stanza without giving a more thorough contextualization of it within the greater poem. As you can see, Whitman does identify the older generations. But, at least he seems to be contemplative rather than accusatory, which is part of this segment's charm.
You can almost see the slight glance a journeyer may give towards the opposite horizon, thinking about other journeymen that came before. Did they do the same thing as I? Are they still marching forward? But rather than waiting for an answer, our journeyman presses on and does what needs to be done.
It's not surprise that the author of Leaves of Grass would include at least a moment of contemplation. However, it's only a moment. Movement, action, purpose--each counters the two questions he poses. And considering how often I let myself become overwhelmed by questions and concerns, this is a pretty good remedy for "working" things through: get up and GO. And more specifically: if you find yourself comparing yourself to another generation STOP. It's almost a given that such a comparison will occur. They have already walked where you have, learned the same (or similar) lessons, and seem to be where you want to be. But, rather than checking to make sure each of our steps are in tune with theirs, why not make sure our steps are our own? Focus on our tasks, burdens, and lessons? This is not a wholly lonesome proposition I make either. I take comfort that our successful elders overcame their struggles and managed to forge their own paths down unknown channels. It is their past youthful spirits that live on in my own adventures.
How tragic would it be for everyone in a generation to forgo the journey and merely repeat the acts of our parents? I resent the folks who defer to the "cyclical" theory for anything relating to our history (near or ancient); I resent them because they assume that nothing new occurs. That nothing has changed or will change. That some how we are all caught in the same circle of doom, despair, glory, and contentment.
I pose to you all now, that I believe the history of humankind is less predictable but still contingent on our pioneering spirit. The less we--the youths--brave this world on our own, the more likely it is we will defer to our parents' methods and mistakes. But, if we can steel our eyes and keep them firmly on the horizon, never letting go if our purpose and desire to grow, I don't believe you see as many tragic "repeats" because everything will be uniquely ours (except of course the emotions..haha those are everyone's).
Do they droop and end their lesson, wearied over there beyond the seas?
We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson,
Pioneers! O pioneers!
Nearly two months ago I made the mistake of writing about a stanza without giving a more thorough contextualization of it within the greater poem. As you can see, Whitman does identify the older generations. But, at least he seems to be contemplative rather than accusatory, which is part of this segment's charm.
You can almost see the slight glance a journeyer may give towards the opposite horizon, thinking about other journeymen that came before. Did they do the same thing as I? Are they still marching forward? But rather than waiting for an answer, our journeyman presses on and does what needs to be done.
It's not surprise that the author of Leaves of Grass would include at least a moment of contemplation. However, it's only a moment. Movement, action, purpose--each counters the two questions he poses. And considering how often I let myself become overwhelmed by questions and concerns, this is a pretty good remedy for "working" things through: get up and GO. And more specifically: if you find yourself comparing yourself to another generation STOP. It's almost a given that such a comparison will occur. They have already walked where you have, learned the same (or similar) lessons, and seem to be where you want to be. But, rather than checking to make sure each of our steps are in tune with theirs, why not make sure our steps are our own? Focus on our tasks, burdens, and lessons? This is not a wholly lonesome proposition I make either. I take comfort that our successful elders overcame their struggles and managed to forge their own paths down unknown channels. It is their past youthful spirits that live on in my own adventures.
How tragic would it be for everyone in a generation to forgo the journey and merely repeat the acts of our parents? I resent the folks who defer to the "cyclical" theory for anything relating to our history (near or ancient); I resent them because they assume that nothing new occurs. That nothing has changed or will change. That some how we are all caught in the same circle of doom, despair, glory, and contentment.
I pose to you all now, that I believe the history of humankind is less predictable but still contingent on our pioneering spirit. The less we--the youths--brave this world on our own, the more likely it is we will defer to our parents' methods and mistakes. But, if we can steel our eyes and keep them firmly on the horizon, never letting go if our purpose and desire to grow, I don't believe you see as many tragic "repeats" because everything will be uniquely ours (except of course the emotions..haha those are everyone's).
