Get out the microscope, because we’re going through this poem line-by-line.
There are several different versions of "Song of Myself" available. We're using the version from the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, the first edition, because we think it best captures the raw energy of Whitman's vision. When he later revised the poem, he divided it into 52 different sections, and we're using these same sections to make it easier to keep track.
- Click here for a copy of the 1855 edition
- Click here to see a later edition of the poem, divided into the 52 sections.
No matter what version you have, don't worry; you'll be able to follow along with us just fine.