1. Tackling Poetry on the EOG

2. Follow these steps: Read the poem straight through
Then ask yourself…what is this mainly about?

3. Song of myself—Walt Witman
I celebrate myself, and sing myself
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you
I loaf and invite my soul,
I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.
My toungue, every atom of my blood, formed from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born from parents the same, and their parents the same
I, now thirty seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.
What is this poem mostly about?

4. Then
Read again with pencil in hand
Note your interpretations

5. Song of myself—Walt Whitman
I celebrate myself, and sing myself
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you
I loaf and invite my soul,
I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.
My tongue, every atom of my blood, formed from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born from parents the same, and their parents the same
I, now thirty seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.

6. Then, answer the questions, marking off choices you know are wrong
According to the poem, what does the narrator seem to enjoy?
a. eating
b. relaxing
c. gardening
d. parenting

7. Refer back to the poem as needed.
At the end of the poem, what does the speaker suggest about himself?
a. he misses his family
b. he wants to find a job
c. he has only a short time to live
d. he is starting on a new path in life.
My tongue, every atom of my blood, formed from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born from parents the same, and their parents the same
I, now thirty seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.