Reading Response 09/08

Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Walt Whitman


The narrative point of view that Walt Whitman uses in this poem is first person. The intended readers are the passengers who will cross the Brooklyn ferry in the future. He makes an interesting connection between the past, present, and future. As he crosses the Brooklyn Ferry, he experiences his time there and absorbs all of his surroundings. He starts off talking about the tides and states, "Flood-tide below me! I see you face to face!" He is staring into the water and talking to the tide that is coming in and symbolizes it as having a face. He is also staring at his own reflection in the water as well.

In the second section, Whitman is trying to show that he is not special or unique. He states, "A hundred years hence, or ever so many hundred years hence, others will see them, will enjoy the sunset, the pouring-in of the flood-tide, the falling-back to the sea of the ebb-tide." He believes that in the future, other people will be doing the same thing he is doing in the present time, crossing from Manhattan to Brooklyn. The world will still look the same in the years to come and Whitman is sharing his experiences with the future passengers who will cross the ferry. He gives some examples of his experiences such as being part of a crowd on the ferry and leaning against a railing on the ship. All of the things he does on his journey between Manhattan to Brooklyn, he knows that he won't be the only person to do those things. That it what excites him and makes him appreciate time.

Whitman wants the passengers to know that he cares about them and about the future passengers on the ferry who will "cross from shore to shore years hence." He brings a sense of excitement to the poem and expresses to his readers the wonderful landscape of New York. He wants everyone to enjoy the experience of crossing the ferry just like he does. This poem stood out to me because of the fact that Whitman was very detailed about his experience and his love for people.