# What Think You I Take My Pen in Hand? explained — Leaves of Grass

> Chapter companion for Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

## What happens

The speaker rejects grand subjects like battleships, nature, and cities, choosing instead to record a simple, intimate moment between two men parting on a pier, sharing a passionate kiss and embrace.

## Themes in this chapter

### Comradeship and Love

The poem focuses on the passionate parting of two dear friends, emphasizing intimate male affection.

### Individuality and Self

The speaker asserts his own perspective, valuing a personal, human moment over conventional epic subjects.

## Character check-ins

### Narrator

The observer who chooses to record a personal, tender scene over grand public spectacles.

## Key lines

> What think you I take my pen in hand to record? The battle-ship, perfect-model’d, majestic, that I saw pass the offing to-day under full sail? The splendors of the past day? or the splendor of the night that envelops me? Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me?⁠—no; But merely of two simple men I saw to-day on the pier in the midst of the crowd, parting the parting of dear friends, The one to remain hung on the other’s neck and passionately kiss’d him, While the one to depart tightly prest the one to remain in his arms.

Do you think I write about grand things like warships, sunsets, or cities? No—I write about two ordinary men I saw today on a pier, saying goodbye with a passionate kiss and embrace.

_The speaker deliberately chooses a private, emotional moment over public grandeur._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/what-think-you-i-take-my-pen-in-hand
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters