I Hear America Singing, Walt Whitman: Summary, Analysis & Themes

Walt Whitman's poem "I Hear America Singing," first published in the 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass, offers a vision of America as a unified and harmonious community. Written on the brink of the Civil War, the poem portrays a nation where people engage in honest, meaningful, and fulfilling work, celebrating their labor through song. Spanning city and countryside, land and sea, it highlights the diverse contributions of individuals whose efforts collectively shape a cohesive whole. The poem emphasizes a balance between individuality and unity, with each enhancing and supporting the other to define the essence of America. I Hear America Singing: Poem Text I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear, Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong, The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand…