To a Common Prostitute:
by Walt Whitman
Be composed-be at ease with me-I am Walt Whitman, liberal
and lusty as Nature,
Not till the sun excludes you do I exclude you,
Not till the waters refuse to glisten for you and the leaves to
rustle for you, do my words
refuse to glisten and rustle
for you.
My girl I appoint with you an appointment, and I charge you that
you make preparation to
be worthy to meet me,
And I charge you that you be patient and perfect till I come.
Till then I salute you with a significant look that you do not
forget me.
Analysis of Poem:
This poem takes a dirty subject and gives it some respect. He looks at the woman as a human, not as an object. He acknowledges that she is doing a job and he is hiring her for her work. There is not a superior person in this and he is not using his masculinity to gain anything or use the woman for anything more than she has made herself. Although it is not a proud occupation it is her own choice and the exchange was respectful. The repetition of phrases helps stress the sincerity of Whitman and the fact that he is not being a totally vile person.