Skating on the Rideau Canal: the Modern Day Walt Whitman

Skating on the Rideau Canal: the Modern Day Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman was one of the most famous poets of the romantic era. He was known as the father of free verse poetry, in which he commonly wrote in prose-like sentences. Whitman’s use of repetition and rhyme adds a poetic, rhythmic and harmonious value to his poems. This enhances the common, direct, and simple diction that Whitman utilizes. Whitman’s writing can be compared to skating down the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, Canada. The Rideau Canal is a long river that runs through the heart of downtown Ottawa; each winter thousands of skaters traverse the frozen river on their skates. Both Whitman’s writing and skating down the Rideau Canal contain limited structure, have a simplistic principle and an underlying sophisticated beauty.

One of Whitman’s most popular free verse poems is “Song of Myself.” The poem is a lengthy story separated into numerous cantos. Each canto contains lines that resemble the manner in which a person would speak. “I wish I could translate the hints about the dead young men and women / What do you think has become of the young and old men?” (Whitman 25-27) from canto 6 of “Song of Myself” demonstrates that Whitman’s writing has limited structure and varied syntax; he alters his sentence length and includes questions within his writing. Similarly, skating down the Rideau Canal lacks organization and structure. Skaters wear different clothes, skate at different speeds, travel in different sized groups and stop skating when they desire. The only stipulation is that everyone must be skating in the same direction, similar to everyone reading Whitman’s poems from left to right, top to bottom. Each skater determines the length, intensity, and speed of their skate down the river, with no two skating experiences being identical; just as each line in Whitman’s poems are unique in style.

Whitman’s writing is usually centered on simplistic principles that involve oneself. In “Song of Myself” Whitman begins the poem by writing “I celebrate myself, and sing myself / For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (Whitman 1-3). In this excerpt, Whitman writes in the first person, however speaks for humanity as a whole; one should celebrate who they are and what they own. Whitman elicits positivity and self-reflection to many of his readers. Skating down the rideau canal has a similar effect; skating is an individual activity that brings joy to each skater. Skaters on the Rideau Canal are united by performing the same activity, sharing the same ice, and enjoying the same weather, similar to Whitman’s writing uniting his readers. Whitman’s writing is direct and intended for the common man; those who young and old, the foolish as much as the wise. Skating down the Rideau Canal has a similar invitation because it is open to the public and the only requirement is that one must be wearing skates; no previous skating experience is required. The intention is that everyone will be able to enjoy the pleasure of skating. The completion of reading “Song of Myself” is usually accompanied by a sense of deep thought and self-reflection. Skating down the entire Rideau Canal is accompanied by a similar feeling after the five mile long skate, that leaves the soul clear and calm. Whitman’s writing and skating down the Rideau Canal both provide similar experiences of beginning and completing a task, while uniting participants through mutual feelings of achievement.

Whitman’s writing contains underlying sophistication that is not immediately apparent. Whitman wrote in “Time to Come,” “Hangs round thee, and the future state / That mystery of fate” (Whitman 2-4). The rhyming of “state” and “fate” provides fluid language for the reader; this diction also provides juxtaposition between the physical state of a person and the theoretical notion of the inevitability of one’s destiny (http://www.poetryfoundsation.org/learning/guide).

The use of rhyming within Whitman’s poetry is similar to rhythmic strides of people skating down the Rideau Canal. The measured crackling of the ice under each stride is similar to the rhyming of Whitman’s poetry that allows the reader to read the poem smoothly. Whitman uses repetition to emphasize his main ideas and add rhythm to the piece. In Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” Whitman repeats “O Captain! my Captain!” to begin multiple stanzas in the poem. This provides the effect that Whitman may be lamenting over the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, a beloved US president. Skating down the Rideau Canal is similar in the repetitive motion of a skating stride. The majority of the canal is a straight line path, so the unchanging, casual forward strides can provide a soothing and tranquil journey down the canal. Although not evident at first, both Whitman’s poetry and skating down the Rideau Canal contain subtle details that make the experience more enjoyable, fluid and exciting. While Whitman utilizes literary devices to enhance the reading experience, the skating experience is influenced by the temperamental beauty of a Canadian winter.

Reading Whitman’s poetry and skating down the Rideau Canal are different activities, however the two pursuits share many similarities. Both activities provide participants with a sense of self reflection and relaxation while navigating through a straightforward passage. Whitman’s continued popularity stems from his ability to appeal to the common reader by providing the reader with a depth of sophistication and a sense of fulfillment unique to each reader. Skating down the Rideau Canal is popular for its ability to unite the masses with a different experience each season because each skater controls his or her own journey. Although Whitman’s work and the Rideau Canal are both centuries old, they are both timeless activities that bring a new perspective depending on the reader or the skater, who each infuse their individuality into their experience to make it meaningful for them.