# To a Common Prostitute explained — Leaves of Grass

> Chapter companion for Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

## What happens

Walt Whitman addresses a prostitute with acceptance and equality, asserting his own liberal and natural character. He promises not to exclude her until the natural world itself excludes her, and appoints a future meeting for which she must prepare. The poem is a radical affirmation of dignity and comradeship across social boundaries.

## Themes in this chapter

### Comradeship and Love

Whitman extends comradeship and love to a prostitute, breaking social barriers with a promise of future meeting.

### Democracy and Equality

The poem asserts radical equality: the speaker will not exclude her until the sun and waters do, embodying democratic inclusion.

## Character check-ins

### Walt Whitman

Speaker who declares himself 'liberal and lusty as Nature' and offers unconditional acceptance.

### Narrator

The voice that appoints an appointment and charges the prostitute to be worthy to meet him.

## Key lines

> Be composed—be at ease with me—I am Walt Whitman, liberal and lusty as Nature

Calm down and feel comfortable with me; I am Walt Whitman, free-spirited and full of life like nature itself.

_Whitman introduces himself as a natural, unrestrained figure to put the prostitute at ease._

> Not till the sun excludes you do I exclude you

I will only reject you when the sun itself rejects you.

_Whitman uses cosmic imagery to promise unconditional acceptance._

> My girl I appoint with you an appointment, and I charge you that you make preparation to be worthy to meet me

I set a meeting with you, my girl, and I insist that you prepare yourself to be worthy of that meeting.

_Whitman elevates the encounter to a sacred appointment, demanding mutual respect and readiness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/to-a-common-prostitute
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters