# As They Draw to a Close explained — Leaves of Grass

> Chapter companion for Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

## What happens

The poet reflects on the underlying aims and seeds planted in his preceding songs, celebrating joy, aspiration, and the fusion of space and time. He embraces death as equal to life and seeks to unify diverse lives with nature and the soul.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Immortality

The poet accepts and exults in Death as the same as life, emphasizing a cyclical, eternal identity.

### Celebration of Nature and the Universe

Nature encompassing God and the joyous, electric all is celebrated, with mountains, rocks, streams, and forests invoked.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

Reflects on his aims and the seed he sought to plant in his songs.

### Death

Embraced and accepted exultingly as the same as life.

### America

Implied in the call to compact diverse lives and put rapport with nature.

## Key lines

> Of the seed I have sought to plant in them, Of joy, sweet joy, through many a year, in them, (For them, for them have I lived, in them my work is done,)

The poet speaks of the core purpose and joy he has cultivated in his songs, affirming that his life's work is fulfilled through them.

_Reflects on the foundational intent and fulfillment of his poetic mission._

> To the sense of Death, and accepting exulting in Death in its turn the same as life,

He embraces the concept of Death, celebrating it as an equal counterpart to life.

_Highlights the theme of death and immortality, accepting death as a natural part of existence._

> To compact you, ye parted, diverse lives, To put rapport the mountains and rocks and streams, And the winds of the north, and the forests of oak and pine, With you O soul.

He aims to unite separate, varied lives and harmonize natural elements with the soul.

_Emphasizes the unity of all existence, blending nature and the spiritual self._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/as-they-draw-to-a-close
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters