the harmony of his life and of life in general. He is clear in his statements and is very sure of himself and his identity. He rises above the “trippers and askers” that oppose or upset him by asserting what his true self is beneath the complications by stating, “Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what I am, / Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary.” “Song of Myself” is a characteristic example of Whitman’s earlier, more idealistic and optimistic poetry.Walt Whitman would not be satisfied until he had accomplished the original task that he deemed his responsibility, rescuing the divided nation through poetry. Failing to achieve this nearly impossible feat, he began to experience strong self-doubt. Whitman’s poetry began to change along with his mental state. Many of the poems from Whitman’s later years revealed a disheartened Whitman. A prime example of these poems of frustration is “As I Ebb’d With the Ocean of Life.” “As I Ebb’d With the Ocean of Life” presents a sharp contrast to the more positive “Song of Myself.” “As I Ebb’d With the Ocean of Life” demonstrates the self-doubt that Whitman felt. In the poem, Whitman shows the regret he feels for writing most of his earlier poems when he says, “Oppress'd with myself that I have dared to open my mouth.” These sentiments of regret appear throughout the poem and provide great insight into Whitman’s mind. The lack of confidence and the self-doubt that “As I Ebb’d With the Ocean of Life” reveals shows that Whitman considered himself a failure to his ultimate goal of reuniting the nation through his poetry. The clear, enlightened tone of “Song of Myself” is completely absent in “As I Ebb’d With the Oceans of Life.” It has been replaced with a total uncertainty. Whi...
