Beat! Beat! Drums! - Walt Whitman

 

Eden - Part II English - II Year UG

[alert-success] BEAT! BEAT! DRUMS! - WALT WHITMAN 

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[alert-primary] Short Summary [/alert-primary]

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      "Beat! Beat! Drums!" was written by Walt Whitman, a famous American poet. It was published in the year 1861, after the Civil War. Walt Whitman through this poem beats the drums, bugles and horns to sound the war alarm. The drumbeat is a sign of war, and it makes people to be angry and violent. He highlights the disruptive nature of war through the cry – Beat! Beat! Drums! 

The poem opens with a command from the poet “Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!”. This noise must enter the quiet churches through windows and doors like an unstoppable, cruel force. This noise must send worshippers to run. It must enter the classrooms where students are trying to focus on their work. It stops the groom from being too quiet on their wedding day. It doesn't let farmers have any quiet time while they're growing crops. 

The speaker again commands “Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!”, as if on repeat. This time, he talks about their sound and hopes that it will be heard all over the city. He tells the bugle horns to sound as loud as possible. People should not be able to sleep at night or work during the day because of the noise. People in business are trying to stay in business. Still, the singers try to sing. The lawyer is still going up to the judge in court to make a point. The person talking tells the drummers to beat harder and faster. If people try to go about their normal lives, the instruments should play even louder and crazier. 

The speaker for the third time commands, “Beat! beat! drums!—blow! bugles! blow!” loudly again.  But this time, he says that it shouldn't stop for any conversation or explanation. He urges the instruments not to pay any attention to people praying, crying, or begging. No matter what the children or mothers say, he orders the drums to beat. 

At the end of the poem, the poet commands the drums and bugles to shake so hard that the support beams under the dead are moved. Only by this loud cry, the people will understand the true disruptive nature of war.

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