Can't See the Symbol for the Trees

(I try to post my responses before I read the others--it works best for my easily muddled
brain--so if this is repetitive of other posts, I apologize.)

"How should we read the sexual content of this poem?" Hmm...seems pretty clear, if we take
the words literally. Obviously, Whitman's talking about having sex. The first three lines
are...interesting. They seem a bit condescending in an indirect sort of way. ("I do not hurt
you any more than is necessary"--hey, don't do us any favors, Walt.) In the next four lines,
the sexual content is pretty straightforward and undeniable. Listening to no entreaties,
pouring the stuff, making deposits, draining the rivers--it would be difficult to interpret those
phrases any other way in this context. Then he gets down with his poetic self in the final three lines, but although the images are grand and patriotic and romantic, there's that condescension again--maybe egotism is a better word. "In you I wrap a thousand onward years," "on you I graft the grafts," "the drops I distil upon you shall grow fierce and athletic girls." Did all that I-I-I drive anybody else nuts? What about that other important element, Walt--you know, THE EGG?

I don't mean to be flippant; I know we're supposed to have a reverence for these works. And I understand from Priscilla's title to this question that we are to look beyond the obvious. But in this poem, Whitman is basically
discussing--admittedly in a romanticized and eloquent manner--reproduction. It seems terrifically arrogant of him to speak as if it were entirely HIS glorious achievement to perpetuate "the grafts of the best-beloved of me and America." It is difficult for me to see beyond that to any "greater" message the poem may contain. (No, I'm not an enraged feminist--it's just the way I see this poem).

I realize in other places Whitman speaks differently of women; right now I'm thinking specifically of section 5 of _I Sing the Body Electric_ ("This is the female form..."). But looking at this poem independently of the others we have read, its most striking statement
seemed to be something along the lines of "Hey there, woman, aren't you lucky to have me
around to plant the seeds of all those 'fierce and athletic girls, new artists, musicians' etc.?" I understand that he was gay, but this poem suggests an underlying level of disregard for women that goes beyond sexual preference (or on second thought, perhaps has everything to do with it?).

I think the poem is generally consistent with _Song of Myself_, as far as his affectionate
references to America and its people, and his vision of the future. I also remembered, and
looked back to find, the line that says, "I know perfectly well my own egotism." I guess this
poem supports that, too.

(Sorry guys, I'm not usually this ornery. It's late--maybe I should have waited until morning
to write... :))