A Noiseless Patient Spider
Walt Whitman 1819 (West Hills) – 1892 (Camden)
A noiseless, patient spider,
I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated;
Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself;
Ever unreeling them—ever tirelessly speeding them.
And you, O my Soul, where you stand,
Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,—seeking the spheres, to connect them;
Till the bridge you will need, be form’d—till the ductile anchor hold;
Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.
About this poem
"A Noiseless Patient Spider" is a poem by Walt Whitman that explores themes of isolation, perseverance, and the search for meaning in the vastness of the universe. The poem uses vivid imagery to depict a spider spinning its web and a soul seeking connections. Whitman draws parallels between the spider's efforts to connect its web to solid anchors and the human soul's quest for connections in the vastness of existence. Through the spider's tenacity and the soul's relentless pursuit, the poem reflects on the human need for connection and the resilience required to find meaning and purpose in a seemingly indifferent world. more »
Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified by acronimous on June 22, 2023
- 31 sec read
- 2,592 Views
Quick analysis:
| Scheme | XXXXA XXAXX |
|---|---|
| Closest metre | Iambic heptameter |
| Characters | 614 |
| Words | 106 |
| Stanzas | 2 |
| Stanza Lengths | 5, 5 |
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"A Noiseless Patient Spider" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 16 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/37939/a-noiseless-patient-spider>.
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