Calvary Crossing a Ford

The poem, “Calvary Crossing a Ford” by Walt Whitman, does not appear to have any real metaphoric significance. It is simply a poem describing soldiers crossing a river. In a literary analysis of the poem by Charles Oliver he writes, “readers may well feel the tension, perhaps even irony, between the scene of time stopped momentarily for these soldiers and a coming battle in which they know men will be killed.”(Oliver) Whitman was trying to display a serene moment it war, showing that in spite of all the gruesome fighting and bloodshed, there are still moments where one can relax and find rest. Walt Whitman writes, “each person a picture, the negligent rest on the saddles.”(Whitman 341) He is depicting a still moment, there is no hurry to get anywhere, they only wish to rest. Whitman is displaying something very similar to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s work, “Nature”. They both convey a moment of peace if you take the time to stop and notice it.

In “Nature” Emerson writes, “In the tranquil landscape”(Emerson 192). The landscape and nature are peaceful in themselves yet man does not take the time to realize it. Emerson writes, “The sun illuminates only the eyes of man, but shines into the eye and heart of the child.”(Emerson 191) Men take for granted how beautiful the sun really is, but the child is fascinated by its beautiful mystery. Emerson wants people to slow down and appreciate the true beauty of nature. That was a good lesson for his culture then, but it is a better lesson for us now. It seems like everyone is always in a hurry and never wants to stop and appreciate the tranquility of the world we live in. Whitman also has a very similar philosophy. Even though they were in a time of war, one could still take the time to stop and appreciate the simple pleasures in life. They are both trying to tell their readers that if we only took the time to slow down and take in the beauty they would be amazed.

Emerson, W. Ralph. "From Nature." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.

Oliver, Charles M. "'Cavalry Crossing a Ford'." Critical Companion to Walt Whitman: A Literary Reference to His Life and Work, Critical Companion. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Bloom's Literary Reference Online. Facts On File, Inc.(February 9, 2012)

Whitman, Walt. "Crossing Calvary a Ford." Comp. Jeffrey D. Wilhelm, Ph.D. and Douglas Fisher, Ph.D. Glencoe Literature. American Literature ed. Columbus: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009. 97-99. Print.