Edward Norton performed a spectacular rendition of a Walt Whitman poem on Colbert tonight

[live love laugh]

Colbert is winding down. The last episode is May 21.
Norton joined the procession of guests seeing him off. Norton performed the work after talking about he is coping with the unrest most are experiencing.

The poem basically says that those who preceded all of us also faced turmoil. It was comforting in the sense that not only are we are not alone but that we too will survive and it gave a nudge to savor life in the present moment.

It’s not on YouTube yet just facebook and TikTok so I didn’t post it but they both show up on Google. I’ll add it if it shows up on YouTube.

[RockRaven]

1. Did you catch the name of the poem?

Just curious. I've got a copy of Leaves of Grass on a bookshelf in the room where I'm sitting at the moment.

[live love laugh]

2. Crossing Brooklyn Ferry

"Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" is a famous poem by Walt Whitman that describes a ferry ride across the East River, exploring themes of unity, shared human experience, and the connection between the past, present, and future. The speaker observes the sights and people on the ferry, realizing that future generations will have the same feelings and experiences, creating a powerful bond across time and space. The poem uses vivid imagery of the river, sky, and city to connect the physical journey with a spiritual one, asserting that all people are part of a single, eternal flow of life.
Key themes and ideas
Unity and connection: The central idea is that all humans are connected through shared experiences, regardless of time or place.
Transcendence: The ferry ride becomes a metaphor for moving between the physical world and the spiritual, connecting the mortal and the eternal.
Epiphany: The speaker has a moment of profound realization that the people on the ferry, and those who will cross years later, are experiencing the same fundamental emotions and sensations.
The "I" and the "We": The poem moves from the specific "I" of the speaker to a universal "we," encompassing all of humanity.
Structure and style
Nine sections: The poem is divided into nine sections, each building on the last.
Vivid imagery: It is filled with sensory details of the river, the sunset, the crowds, and the city.
Anaphora: Whitman uses repetition, such as "Just as you..." and "I too," to emphasize the parallels between the speaker and the reader.
Original title: It was first published in 1856 as "Sun-Down Poem" and retitled in the 1860 edition of Leaves of Grass.

[RockRaven]

4. Excellent, thank you. nt

[progressoid]

3. They've uploaded the extended interview

?si=0ow7xNF9W2_FNhcu

[KT2000]

5. Thank you

The entire interview was a breath of fresh air. The poetry reading was beautiful.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. It was breathtaking.