Rukeyser's Book of the Dead

I think Rukeyser is allowing the reader to become the one she is writing about. She wants the reader in the shoes of the ones she is talking about or have the ability to be in the position. 
She says,
 "These roads will take you into your own country" this line has the ability to relate to anyone, she is pointing out that this poem has regards to the reader.




I feel that in Whitman's, When Lilacs, he wants the reader close and to have a good view but not in the shoes of himself, Whitman I feel, likes to show and illuminate what he sees so that you will see it. He kind of tells you what you're doing, 
"as you drooped from the sky, low down as if to my side"


She uses you, to point to everyone reading the poem, to make the reader realize this poem is for them. 
"and you young, you who finishing the poem" She is speaking to the reader.


Whitman uses "you" as a sort of invitation, or to feel what he is doing or feeling.
 "I saw on the rim of the west how you were full of woe"


The ending of each poem holds a sense of the ability to carry on, though tragedy.Both poets give homage to the people involved to the memory and the way it will remain. 
"comrades mine and I in the midst and their memory ever to keep in the dead I loved so well"


Whtitman ends with " Lilac, and star and bird, twined with the chant of my soul"
It is forever twined within him, not soon to be forgotten.


Rukeyser ends with a sort of calling for those that are living to commemorate the people,


"Carry abroad the urgent need, the scene,
to photograph and to extend the voice,to speak this meaning.
Voices to speak to us directly. As we move.As we enrich, growing in larger motion,this word, this power.
Communication to these many menas epilogue, seeds of unending love. "





From this tragedy we grow, we can enrich ourselves and be able to be the epilogue.

Project Idea...

I was thinking of further exploring Walt Whtiman's use of  women in his poetry. I have always been interested in gender roles and attempting to break out of the role given to us by society, or digging deeper into why these roles exist and why people continue to allow roles to guide them. I noticed in Whitman's poem, Song of myself that he uses woman to portray someone locked up, behind a glass door, or in a motherly way. I thought it would be interesting to compare the 1855 version to the 1860 version, to see if any of the women's roles or positions had changed. I realize its only a five year difference, but I'm willing to do some ore research regarding women in this time period and what happened in society during this time.
I would also look at reviews from women and articles written by women for Whitman's work.
As far as evidence of learning, I was thinking some sort of visual drawing to depict women in those times and now, but also maybe re-writing verses (or keeping them, but only reading the lines regarding women) that include women to go with the times now. And if times allows, get various women to read these lines and I can record them and put together a compilation.