Leaves of Grass · Chapter

A Kiss to the Bride explained

A poetic wedding greeting for Nelly Grant's marriage in 1874, channeling the collective love and blessings of the entire nation through the poet's voice, celebrating youth, health, and the union of the bride with a nation's affectionate kis

What happens

Themes in this chapter

Comradeship and Love
The poem expresses a collective, nation-wide love and blessing for the bride, uniting millions in a single affectionate gesture.
America and Its People
The wedding becomes a national event, with the poet invoking the entire country's participation and goodwill.

Characters to notice

Narrator
The poet speaks as the conduit for a million hearts and hands, offering blessings and the nation's kiss.
America
The nation is personified as the source of benisons from East, West, North, and South, and the collective entity offering the kiss.

Key passages

“Through me indeed to-day a million hearts and hands, Wafting a million loves, a million soulfelt prayers”
The poet acts as a medium for the entire nation's collective affection and prayers directed toward the bride.
Highlights the poet's role as a unifier and spokesperson for the people.
“Dear girl⁠—through me the ancient privilege too, For the New World, through me, the old, old wedding greeting”
The poet conveys a timeless wedding blessing, adapted for the New World through his voice.
Connects the present ceremony to ancient traditions of marriage blessings.
“Yield thy red cheeks, thy lips, to-day, Unto a Nation's loving kiss.”
The bride is invited to receive the affectionate kiss of the entire nation.
Personifies the nation as a loving entity participating in the wedding.

Read this chapter free Book page