h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A570214

This entry is a review and interpretation of one of Walt Whitman's famous poems, "Song of Myself." I feel that it would be a good addition to the Guide because (a) Walt Whitman is regarded by many as one of the most influential, most important, and one of the best poets that ever lived, (b) therfore, his work should be made known, and (c) there doesn't seem to be anything else relating to it in the Guide already.

I've only had a quick browse of your entry so it's probably unfair of me to say much yet - but - (and didn't you just know that was coming), without a copy of the poem's full text in my hand it's difficult to make sense of your critique. In particular, referring to specific line numbers doesn't mean a thing. Presumably we'd have trouble with copyright if you quoted an entire poem so you need to find a way to write this that doesn't assume total familiarity with Walt Whitman's work. I know he's a major piece of the American literary canon but your article needs to make sense even to people like me who haven't read anything he's written.
Now I'm going to go back and reread a bit more thoroughly.
Till later.
MC

You're absolutely correct, MC; I was so excited about the concept of h2g2, which I just joined a couple of days ago, that I didn't realize until later that I'd made a little mistake: even at a nine-point font, the poem takes up over twenty pages, and wouldn't fit in the text box.

Thus, it is with slight regrets that I think that this shouldn't become an entry--at least not yet. Next time, though, I'll be prepared...

Thank you for your critiquing!

Having read through a bit more carefully now, there's a lot there that does make interesting reading. Would you perhaps consider writing something about why Whitman is considered so important and influential to literature and if I read your last paragraph correctly, to American culture in general? You could use some quotes from "Song of Myself" and other works to illustrate your points and you might even send some of us scurrying to our poetry anthologies to read the full versions for ourselves

That's an interesting (and definitely good) thought. I think that I'll try to do that, once I've read a bit more of his work (I have a book... **SOMEWHERE** ). This place (h2g2) is definitely productive... I like the "constructive criticism from peers" (which I prefer to think of as "encouragement from friends, many of whom I've never met, but together have a wide, diverse range of opinions and ideas..."). Oh, well... I'm rambling. But I mean it. I'll see what I can dig up on Mr. Whitman.

Thank you for your critiquing!

You're welcome.
Looking forward to seeing your next article here soon.

MC was quite right: Without extensive quotes it isn't feasible to really understand the entry. It's like teaching colours to the blind. And the only way around copyright restrictions would be to discuss in reasonable elaboration (sp?), where space limitations set in. Yes, this site is great and bears a real danger of getting addicted (too late for me ) Re: Posting 4: Yes please! Personally I'm a rather square-headed electronics person, but there are looooots of people around with an inclination to serious poetry. I'm using 'serious' to set this off against the Haiku Challenge (http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F55816?thread=93649) which is something completely different Well, as this entry won't be pursued further, I'm going to have this thread moved out of Peer Review... the question is: to the Sinbin or would you rather like it to be moved as a conversation below the entry? Bossel (Scout)

Obviously Andrew won't pursue this matter further, as he has from this thread. Any Scout seconding a move back to the entry?

very late, but seconded!

Editorial Note: This conversation has been moved from 'Peer Review' to 'Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself"'.

Hi folks,

This thread has been moved back to the original entry at the author's reuest.