THIS dust was once the Man,
Gentle, plain, just and resolute--under whose cautious hand,
Against the foulest crime in history known in any land or age,
Was saved the Union of These States.
Seems like another Abe Lincoln poem to me. He 'fought the foulest crime in history in any land or age' and 'saved the Union.' I think that, with reference to the first line, he is commenting about the ash being the remains of Abe Lincoln, a legend.
I totally agree with you..you are totally right about it being about slavery and Lincon saving the union.
Of course I'm right, and of course Cavanaugh agrees with me. Wait a minute, Cavanaugh, what are you doing here? *chases her out with a rolled up poetry book*
I think you're right about the slavery thing. Thanks for posting that. I hadn't thought of that but now that you say it you're right.
I think 'the foulest crime in history' is slavery, and that it talks about Lincoln saving the union by despatching slavery.
I feel that Whitman had a lot of respect for Abraham Lincoln and his success in uniting American and that this poem was dedicated to him. I think that the 'foulest crime in history' might mean the Civil War but more likely the assassination of President Lincoln.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
i agree with you totally!