Summary: The mood of the poem changes as he discusses the fall of Alamo and the brutal massacre of four-hundred and twelve young men. He describes the sight in great detail and then describes the murder of a calm little captain. After realizing that he cannot be removed from other peoples suffering, he internalizes all the pain he wrote of and encourages us to do the same. "Embody all presences outlaw'd or suffering." He is an active part of all injustices and sorrows. Whitman talks about giving the world himself; it doesn't matter who we are exactly but he gives anyway.
Commentary: I often struggle with this! People I know, including my parents, fail to understand how I can be so affected by things that don't even happen to me. This section caused me to realize (kind of) that it’s not only me who feels these things. In a way, I internalize other people’s pain also. "By God, you shall not go down! hang your whole weight upon me. I dilate you with tremendous breath, I buoy you up..." It may not be the healthiest thing ever but I suppose it's because I have a pretty big heart. Is that weird? I feel like it is...but whatever. I feel like that's just part of the way I was made, much like Walt Whitman. I never thought I’d be able to relate to a twentieth century author, but hey, I guess that's why they’re classics.
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