# My Legacy explained — Leaves of Grass

> Chapter companion for Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

## What happens

The speaker contrasts the material legacy of a businessman with his own bequest of war remembrances and songs, offering love and memories instead of wealth.

## Themes in this chapter

### Death and Immortality

The speaker contemplates his own death and the enduring legacy of his songs, contrasting material wealth with immortal remembrance.

### Comradeship and Love

The bequest is bound with love, emphasizing bonds of friendship and shared experience over material goods.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The speaker surveys his life and prepares to leave a legacy of songs and war remembrances.

### America

Implied as the context for the war remembrances and the people to whom the songs are bequeathed.

## Key lines

> But I, my life surveying, closing, With nothing to show to devise from its idle years, Nor houses nor lands, nor tokens of gems or gold for my friends, Yet certain remembrances of the war for you, and after you, And little souvenirs of camps and soldiers, with my love, I bind together and bequeath in this bundle of songs.

Unlike a wealthy businessman who leaves property and money, I have no material wealth to give, but I offer you memories of the war and tokens from camps and soldiers, tied together with my love in this collection of poems.

_The speaker redefines legacy as emotional and artistic rather than material._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/my-legacy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters