海角大神

Thanks to the frequent use of Walt Whitman鈥檚 poetry as a plot element in the acclaimed cable drama 鈥淏reaking Bad,鈥� the 19th-century bard is getting a heightened profile in popular culture.

Characters sometimes quote Whitman in the dramatic series, which chronicles terminally ill teacher Walter White鈥檚 descent into evil when he decides to make and sell crystal meth to leave a nest egg for his family.

鈥淟eaves of Grass,鈥� Whitman鈥檚 most famous collection of poems, plays a pivotal role in a聽 recent episode when Walter鈥檚 brother-in-law Hank, a DEA agent, comes across a copy of Whitman鈥檚 poetry that incriminates Walter as a drug kingpin.

Kera Bolonik, writing recently at poetryfoundation.org, noted that at first glance, the pairing of the cosmically ebullient Whitman and the darkly mercenary Walter is an odd one, to say the least.

But Bolonik also pointed to some similarities between Whitman and Walter, mentioning that they鈥檙e both intellectual pioneers in their field, doing work that puts them at society鈥檚 margin, and they鈥檙e both obsessive perfectionists. You can read the full text of Bolonik鈥檚 splendid essay here.

One other parallel between the two is that Whitman, despite the generally optimistic tone of his poetry, remains alert to the grimmer implications of mortality, a running theme in 鈥淏reaking Bad."

Readers will notice that awareness in quite a few passages of Whitman鈥檚 poetry.

Here, in honor of Whitman鈥檚 newly enhanced celebrity, are 10 quotes from his 鈥淟eaves of Grass鈥� collection:

1) 鈥淭he United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem.... Here at last is something in the doings of man that corresponds with the broadcast doings of day and night."

2) 鈥淭he proof of a poet is that his country absorbs him as affectionately as he has absorbed it.鈥�

3) 鈥淣othing can happen more beautiful than death.鈥�

4) 鈥淚 celebrate myself and sing myself. And what I assume you shall assume.鈥澛�

5) 鈥淚 loaf and invite my soul.鈥澛�

6) 鈥淗as anyone supposed it lucky to be born?鈥�
I hasten to inform him or her, it is just
As lucky to die, and I know it.鈥�

7) 鈥淲alt Whitman am I, a Kosmos, of
Mighty Manhattan the son,
Turbulent, fleshy and sensual, eating,
drinking and breeding . . .鈥澛�

8) 鈥淚 dote on myself, there is a lot of me
and all so luscious.鈥�

9) 鈥淚 believe a leaf of grass is no less than
the journey-work of the stars.鈥�

10) 鈥淏ehold! I do not give lectures or a little
charity,
When I give I give myself.鈥�