"Beat! Beat! Drums!" is a poem by Walt Whitman that was published in his collection Leaves of Grass in 1855. The poem is a call to arms, urging the reader to rally together and go to war.
Throughout the poem, Whitman uses vivid and passionate language to convey the urgency and importance of the call to arms. He writes, "For every step, and all is a march, / Onward, the muskets sounding, / Forward, the flag of war." The repetition of the word "forward" and the use of military language, such as "muskets sounding," create a sense of movement and momentum.
Whitman also employs vivid imagery to convey the excitement and energy of going to war. He writes, "With the jubilant, clanging drums / Beating, beating drums, / With the trumpet's stirring blast, / Hearts, beating, beating hearts." The repetition of the phrase "beating drums" and the reference to "hearts beating" create a sense of rhythmic energy that is both exhilarating and intimidating.
However, despite the poem's enthusiastic call to arms, there is also a sense of sadness and loss that runs throughout "Beat! Beat! Drums!" Whitman writes, "These hearts that beat so wild and free, / So stout, so brave, so true, / Where is the house that will hold them all?" This line suggests that there will be casualties in the war, and that many brave and true hearts will be lost.
Overall, "Beat! Beat! Drums!" is a powerful and emotive poem that captures the excitement and energy of going to war, as well as the sadness and loss that comes with it. Through vivid language and imagery, Whitman presents a nuanced and complex view of the experience of going to war, and encourages the reader to rally together and stand up for what they believe in.