"To The Reader At Parting"

NOW, dearest comrade, lift me to your face,
We must separate awhile—Here! take from my lips this kiss.
Whoever you are, I give it especially to you;
So long!—And I hope we shall meet again.


Analysis:

This poem is dedicated to Whitman’s readers. In many of his poems, Walt Whitman talks about his readers as friends and close acquaintances. This poem id dedicated to his readers that have momentarily stopped reading his work. It is composed of only one stanza and four verses. There is a free rhyme scheme (face/kiss/you/again). The author is personifying his books, or maybe he is comparing himself with the book, actually personifying it. He is talking directly to the reader, and calls him “comrade” (l.1), showing that Whitman considers him/her a companion of many adventurous voyages. The book asks the reader to lift his face, for they must separate for a while. However, he gives the reader a kiss; to whichever reader, he dedicates it in the same way. He ends the poem by wishing to meet again. This shows how Whitman loves his readers, and wants them to enjoy and continue reading his poems (this idea is represented through a simile, that is the desire and love by Whitman is reflected through the kiss), continue being a comrade in many (written) adventures.

http://www.whitmanarchive.org/published/LG/1871/poems/289