Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking Flashcards
Summary.
- Nature’s symphony reveals life’s mysteries, echoing the quest for love & meaning amidst solitude.
- Through the narrative lens of a young boy experiencing his poetic awakening, Whitman vividly recounts the story of two birds whose bond becomes emblematic of one of love & grief.
- The poem oscillates between moments of tender nostalgia & profound sorrow as the speaker grapples with the sometimes devastating realities of life & death.
- Rich imagery & lyrical language
- The poem is a meditation on the fragility of existence & the universal human quest for meaning amidst nature.
Themes.
- Death
- The Redemptive & Healing Power of Art
- Love
- Nature
What do the he-bird & she-bird symbolise?
- Companionship, love & harmony in nature
Stanza 1:
Out of the cradle endlessly rocking,
Out of the mocking-bird’s throat, the musical shuttle,
Out of the Ninth-month midnight,
Over the sterile sands and the fields beyond, where the child leaving his bed wander’d alone, bareheaded, barefoot,
Down from the shower’d halo,
Up from the mystic play of shadows twining and twisting as if they were alive,
Out from the patches of briers and blackberries,
From the memories of the bird that chanted to me,
From your memories sad brother, from the fitful risings and fallings I heard,
From under that yellow half-moon late-risen and swollen as if with tears,
From those beginning notes of yearning and love there in the mist,
From the thousand responses of my heart never to cease,
From the myriad thence-arous’d words,
From the word stronger and more delicious than any,
From such as now they start the scene revisiting,
As a flock, twittering, rising, or overhead passing,
Borne hither, ere all eludes me, hurriedly,
A man, yet by these tears a little boy again,
Throwing myself on the sand, confronting the waves,
I, chanter of pains and joys, uniter of here and hereafter,
Taking all hints to use them, but swiftly leaping beyond them,
A reminiscence sing.
- The repeated phrase “Out of - a continuous unfolding or emergence from various sources, leading the reader into a journey of discovery & revelation.
- The journey is characterised by sensory experiences & vivid imagery as the speaker describes the scene unfolding before them.
- “mocking-bird’s throat, the musical shuttle” - the transformative power of music & art, which serves as a catalyst for the speaker’s introspection & emotional exploration
- “A man, yet by these tears a little boy again” - As the speaker wanders through the landscape, encountering memories & sensations, they are transported back to a state of innocence & vulnerability, symbolised by the image of the little boy. This juxtaposition of the past & present underscores the theme of memory & nostalgia, as the speaker grapples with the passage of time & new facets of the human experience.
- “yellow half-moon late-risen & swollen as if with tears” - evokes melancholy & introspection as the speaker reflects on moments of yearning & love
- This theme of longing is further emphasised by the repetition of the word “From”, which suggests a continuous search for meaning & connection amidst the enormity of the cosmos.
Stanza 2:
Once Paumanok,
When the lilac-scent was in the air and Fifth-month grass was growing,
Up this seashore in some briers,
Two feather’d guests from Alabama, two together,
And their nest, and four light-green eggs spotted with brown,
And every day the he-bird to and fro near at hand,
And every day the she-bird crouch’d on her nest, silent, with bright eyes,
And every day I, a curious boy, never too close, never disturbing them,
Cautiously peering, absorbing, translating.
- The speaker transports the reader to a specific moment in time, recalling a scene from their childhood on Paumanok.
- “lilac-scent” in the air & the “Fifth-month grass” growing conjures a sense of springtime vitality & renewal, setting the stage for the emergence of new life
- The refrain of “Two together” (throughout the poem) reinforces themes of companionship & unity in nature.
- Anaphora of “And every day” & careful attention to detail in the description of the birds’ behaviour - routine & intimacy in their lives.
- The speaker, a “curious boy”, observes this scene with a mixture of awe & respect, highlighting the innocence & wonder of childhood.
- Through this nostalgic recollection, Whitman emphasises themes of connection to nature, the passage of time & the delicate balance of life & death.
Stanza 3:
Shine! shine! shine!
Pour down your warmth, great sun!
While we bask, we two together.
- “Shine! shine! shine!” & “Pour down your warmth” - passionate plea to the sun reflects the speaker’s desire for both literal & metaphorical illumination.
- The sun symbolises light, warmth & vitality & is a source of solace, especially in the context of the speaker’s longing for companionship & connection. It also suggests a sense of abundance & generosity, inviting the reader to revel in the simple pleasures of existence.
- The repetition of “shine” - intensity of the speaker’s plea, suggesting a deep yearning for the sun’s life-giving energy to envelop & sustain them.
- “we bask, we two together” - theme of companionship & unity, as the speaker celebrates the joys of companionship & the beauty of the natural world.
Stanza 4:
Two together!
Winds blow south, or winds blow north,
Day come white, or night come black,
Home, or rivers and mountains from home,
Singing all time, minding no time,
While we two keep together.
- The male mockingbird reflects on the enduring bond shared between two beings, emphasising their unity amidst the changing tides of life.
- Repetition of “Two together!” - theme of companionship & unity, highlighting the strength of the connection between the speaker & their companion.
- “Winds…home” - steadfast companionship. Despite the changing circumstances & challenges that may arise, the speaker believes in the resilience of their relationship, affirming their commitment to staying together regardless of external forces.
- “Singing all time, minding no time, // While we two keep together.” - assertion - a state of blissful harmony & contentment, where the passage of time holds little significance in the face of the profound connection shared between 2 beings.
- Whitman celebrates the power of human connection & the transformative power of love to transcend barriers & endure through all circumstances.
Stanza 5:
Till of a sudden,
May-be kill’d, unknown to her mate,
One forenoon the she-bird crouch’d not on the nest,
Nor return’d that afternoon, nor the next,
Nor ever appear’d again.
- Introduces a moment of tragedy & loss as the she-bird suddenly disappears, leaving her mate behind.
- “Till of a sudden” - abruptness of her absence, signalling a dramatic shift in the narrative
- “May-be kill’d, unknown to her mate” - adds poignancy, highlighting the fragility of life & the unpredictability of fate
- Absence of the she-bird from her nest is described in stark detail, heightening the sense of foreboding, sorrow & grief.
- Repetition of “Nor” - strong negation underscores the inevitability of loss as the she-bird’s disappearance is a reminder of the transience of existence.
Stanza 6:
And thenceforward all summer in the sound of the sea,
And at night under the full of the moon in calmer weather,
Over the hoarse surging of the sea,
Or flitting from brier to brier by day,
I saw, I heard at intervals the remaining one, the he-bird,
The solitary guest from Alabama.
- Describes the he-bird’s solitary existence following the disappearance of his mate.
- Imagery of the sea & moon - creates a sense of continuity & passage of time as the speaker observes the he-bird’s presence amidst the natural elements
- “flitting from brier to brier by day” - a reminder of the he-bird’s persistent presence & frenetic energy as he battles with enduring grief & longing for his lost companion
- Despite the passage of time & the changing seasons, the he-bird remains a solitary figure, indicating that even nature & the cosmos will never be able to overcome death.
- The he-bird continues to endure in the face of loss & adversity, underscoring themes of solitude & resilience.
- The description of the he-bird as “the solitary guest from Alabama” - isolation & longing, highlighting the profound impact of his mate’s absence on his emotional state.
Stanza 7:
Blow! blow! blow!
Blow up sea-winds along Paumanok’s shore;
I wait and I wait till you blow my mate to me.
- The he-bird directs an impassioned plea to the sea-winds, urging them to bring back his lost mate.
- Epizeuxis “Blow! blow! blow!” - urgency & desperation, as they implore the winds to act as agents of reunion & reconciliation.
- The mention of Paumanok’s shore - adds a sense of specifity to the speaker’s plea, grounding the narrative in a tangible sense of place.
- Diacope in “I wait & I wait till you blow my mate to me” - longing & hope for the restoration of the bird’s companion, emphasising the transfiguring power of love in the bird’s courage in the face of grief & suffering.
- “Blow up sea-winds” - invocation of the sea-winds as intermediaries in the quest for reunion reflects a belief in the interconnectedness of all living beings & the potential for the natural world to respond to human emotion & desire.
Stanza 8:
Yes, when the stars glisten’d,
All night long on the prong of a moss-scallop’d stake,
Down almost amid the slapping waves,
Sat the lone singer wonderful causing tears.
- A poignant scene where a solitary singer sits by the sea, evoking a sense of wonder and sorrow in those who hear his song.
- Image of the “lone singer”, illuminated by the glistening stars & seated amidst the crashing waves - conveys a sense of isolation & vulnerability, yet also a profound connection to the natural world.
- The description of the lone singer as “wonderful causing tears” - transformative power of music in its ability to evoke deep emotions in the listener, highlighting the transcendent nature of art & its ability to foster connections between individuals & the natural world.
Stanza 9:
He call’d on his mate,
He pour’d forth the meanings which I of all men know.
- “He call’d on his mate” - the act of calling out to his mate symbolises the he-bird’s unwavering devotion & refusal to give up hope despite the odds against him.
- “pour’d forth the meanings which I of all men know.” - the speaker’s assertion that he understands the meanings poured forth by the he-bird - deep empathy & connection between the speaker & the natural world.
Stanza 10:
Yes my brother I know,
The rest might not, but I have treasur’d every note,
For more than once dimly down to the beach gliding,
Silent, avoiding the moonbeams, blending myself with the shadows,
Recalling now the obscure shapes, the echoes, the sounds and sights after their sorts,
The white arms out in the breakers tirelessly tossing,
I, with bare feet, a child, the wind wafting my hair,
Listen’d long and long.
- Acknowledges their understanding of the he-bird’s song, suggesting a deep connection & resonance with its meaning.
- “Yes my brother I know” - empathy as they understand recognise the significance of the he-bird’s song.
- Speaker’s assertion that they have “treasur’d every note” - importance of the he-bird’s song in their own personal journey.
- The speaker’s recollection of past experiences, including “obscure shapes, echoes, sounds, & sights” - adds depth & texture to the narrative - transformative power of nature to evoke memories & emotions.
- The speaker’s vivid recollection of listening to the sounds of the beach as a child, with “bare feet” & the “wind wafting [their] hair” - longing for the innocence & wonder of youth. Through this portrayal of the speaker’s nostalgic reminiscence, Whitman explores the ways in which individuals are shaped by their past experiences & the enduring influence of childhood memories on the psyche.
Stanza 11:
Listen’d to keep, to sing, now translating the notes,
Following you my brother.
- The act of listening is described as a deliberate & purposeful endeavour, with the speaker expressing their desire to “keep” & “sing” the notes of the song - deep engagement with the music & a commitment to translating its significance into their own understanding.
- The speaker’s reference to the he-bird as “my brother” - sense of kinship & connection they feel with nature.
- The speaker’s desire to “follow” the he-bird - willingness to immerse themselves fully in the experience of listening, allowing the music to guide their thoughts & emotions - Whitman explores the ways that individuals seek meaning & connection through artistic expression.
Stanza 12:
Soothe! soothe! soothe!
Close on its wave soothes the wave behind,
And again another behind embracing and lapping, every one close,
But my love soothes not me, not me.
- The he-bird expresses a deep longing to be comforted, invoking the repetitive sounds of the ocean waves as a source of solace.
- Epizeuxis “Soothe! soothe! soothe!” - desperate plea for relief from their emotional turmoil.
- Despite the calming rhythm of the waves, the speaker laments that their own love does not provide them with the same sense of comfort & tranquility.
- Juxtaposition of the soothing nature of the natural world & the he-bird’s internal anguish - limitations of external sources of solace.
- “my love soothes not me, not me” - isolation & disconnection from their feelings & companion - perpetual emotional unrest.
