Leaves of Grass · Chapter
Had I the Choice explained
The speaker reflects on the choice between emulating the greatest poets of history—Homer, Shakespeare, Tennyson—and the singular, natural inspiration of the sea.
What happens
The speaker reflects on the choice between emulating the greatest poets of history—Homer, Shakespeare, Tennyson—and the singular, natural inspiration of the sea. He would gladly trade all their crafted art for the undulation of a single wave, seeking the sea's raw, organic breath to infuse his verse with its essence.
Themes in this chapter
Celebration of Nature and the Universe
The sea is portrayed as a powerful, organic force whose single wave and breath are valued above all human artistic achievement.
The Poet as Prophet and Unifier
The speaker seeks to transcend traditional poetic forms by channeling the natural world, positioning the poet as a conduit for universal truth.
Characters to notice
- Narrator
The speaker who contemplates the value of poetic tradition versus natural inspiration.
- Homer
Mentioned as a great bard whose works include Hector, Achilles, and Ajax.
- Shakespeare
Mentioned as a great bard whose works include Hamlet, Lear, and Othello.
Key passages
“Had I the choice to tally greatest bards, To limn their portraits, stately, beautiful, and emulate at will, Homer with all his wars and warriors—Hector, Achilles, Ajax, Or Shakespeare’s woe-entangled Hamlet, Lear, Othello—Tennyson’s fair ladies, Metre or wit the best, or choice conceit to wield in perfect rhyme, delight of singers;”
If I could choose to list the greatest poets, paint their dignified and beautiful portraits, and imitate them freely—Homer with his tales of war and heroes like Hector, Achilles, and Ajax, or Shakespeare's tragic characters Hamlet, Lear, and Othello, or Tennyson's lovely women, or the best meter, wit, or clever idea to use in perfect rhyme, which singers love—
The speaker enumerates the pinnacles of literary tradition he could emulate.
“These, these, O sea, all these I’d gladly barter, Would you the undulation of one wave, its trick to me transfer, Or breathe one breath of yours upon my verse, And leave its odor there.”
All of these, O sea, I would happily trade if you would give me the motion of a single wave, teach me its secret, or breathe one breath of your essence onto my poetry, leaving your scent upon it.
The speaker expresses a willingness to exchange all human poetic achievement for the sea's natural, elemental inspiration.