response to Whitman

The sexual content of this poem seems to be purely for the intent of procreation. It does not seem in any way romantic or even passoniate,but more like an act which must be performed in order for life to go on. When he states that "I do not hurt you any more than is necessary for you" it almost seems as if this is not wholly consentual. While this may not have been an issue at the time like it is today, it still seems rather harsh and certainly not loving. In class we discussed how Whitman and many men of the time may even have seem sex with women as a necessary evil-- a means to an end. This notion certainly seems clear in this passage. This does relate to his larger thematic concern of populating America with new generations and some of his feminist views come through when he states that this act may lead to "fierce and athletic girls". This notion seems quite ahead of his time. Whitman wants to do the right thing by procreating and giving back to the nation in a way which makes it seem as if it were a duty. It also seems that he is not only speaking of making a child, but in the lines where he says, " I dare not withdraw till I deposit what has so long accumulated in me" he is speaking of passing on his positive traits and attributes. He may also not be speaking simply for himself, but for men in general in this time period.
This passage seems somewhat consistent with Song of Myself in that again, he is celebrating life and the greatness within it. He also celebrates his own attributes and what he is capable of giving to America. He is giving his best and this is consistent with the way he looked at life and nature and living in Song of Myself.