What is the significance of Grass in Walt Whitman's Song of myself?

The significance of Grass, in American poet Walt Whitman’s
“Song of Myself”, as part of his epic work “Leaves of Grass” is that a single blade of
grass represents an individual in society. The man in the poem is “…observing
a spear of summer grass.” This causes him to ponder the human condition and
the thoughts and actions of human beings. This blade or spear of grass is amongst an
innumerable host of leaves of grass. It is a representation of this grass, as well as
distinct and separate (as an individual blade) from this
multitude.

This is the same with people. We are
all part of the human family. We are also distinct, unique individuals of this group.
When the man ponders the blade of grass he is thinking about man (exemplified by the
blade) and his purpose on the earth.

Right off
the bat, in this section of “Leaves of Grass”, Whitman alludes to the fact that we come
from the dust of the earth. Spears of grass arise from the dirt. Man is created of the
dust of the earth and Whitman states in this poem that, “My tongue, every atom
of my blood, form’d from this soil, this air, …” He sees some similarities
here between flora and human beings. The soil begets a multitude of grass; the soil
begot human beings through a creative act. This is definitely alluded to here,
regardless of one’s belief system.

It seems that
Whitman is relating the life of a blade of grass to a human life. Grass strives to
survive daily and eventually meets its end. So does man. Grass, so-to-speak, greets each
day and exists and functions. So do we, as living beings. Whitman notes “… the
song of me rising from bed and meeting the sun.” This is what spears of grass
do each morning – awake and meet the
sun.

Whitman is satisfied with what he sees of
himself – internally and physically. A fine blade of grass also has its inherent beauty
and wonderfulness of form. Whitman is celebrating himself, and by extension all humans,
as he celebrates the blade of grass that is causing him to think deeply. He is satisfied
and says so, “I am satisfied – I see, dance, laugh,
sing.…”

Grass represents all humans,
collectively and individually, and what each faces in life. Whitman talks of all that
one can worry about. This includes, among others listed, inventions, societies, dress,
associates, love of others, sickness of loved ones, and lack of money. The difference
being that the grass carries on unworried, while people do not have that
luxury.

People must face life differently than
unthinking grass and deal with issues. People must carry on and create and produce, and
do the things they are accustomed to doing, despite challenges. There will always be
grass. There will always be people living; “…the book-keeper counts at his
desk, the shoemaker waxes his
thread,…”

Life, in its complexities,
as well as mundane acts, continues on its survival plan, just like leaves of
grass.

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