Walt Whitman: Poems

I hear America singing

Walt Whitman has been called the father of the free verse. What effect does this poetic form have on the poem overall?

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The poem consists of one stanza, which is made up of eleven lines. Whitman writes in his characteristic free verse. The structure is simple: it follows the simple list format that Whitman commonly employs in his poetry. One by one, he lists the different members of the American working class and describes the way they sing as they perform their respective tasks. He formats each line and sentence similarly, as many begin with the word "the," and contain phrases that are variations on "as he ___" or "on his way to ___." This structural choice gives the lines a quick pace and an a rhythmic whimsicality. Because of this, the poem gives the reader the sensation of hearing these carols in rapid succession. This poem exemplifies the theme of musicality in Whitman's poetry.

Because freeverse has no required structure, what effect does free verse have on the poem “I Hear America Singing”?