by Whitman · Cluster: Nationalism and Patriotism · Democracy · Liberty Political Freedom
Abstract
Drum-Taps apostrophe to the American flag as ‘flag of life’ and ‘flag of death,’ fusing battle, patriotism, and a maternal sacred emblem.
Connections
Archetypes: Great Mother Motifs: Flag, Death Themes & Concepts: Nationalism and Patriotism, War and its Cost Forms & Genres: Lyric
Testo integrale / Full text
Cluster: DRUM-TAPS
Delicate cluster! flag of teeming life!
Covering all my lands—all my seashores lining!
Flag of death! (how I watch’d you through the smoke of battle pressing!
How I heard you flap and rustle, cloth defiant!)
Flag cerulean—sunny flag, with the orbs of night dappled!
Ah my silvery beauty—ah my woolly white and crimson!
Ah to sing the song of you, my matron mighty!
My sacred one, my mother.