"Miracles"
by Walt Whitman
✨ About the Poet:
Walt Whitman (1819–1892)
- Walt
Whitman is one of America’s greatest poets, often
called the “Father of Free Verse.”
- His major
work is Leaves of Grass (first published in 1855), a lifelong
project celebrating humanity, nature, democracy, and spirituality.
- Whitman’s
poetry focuses on the beauty of the ordinary, the equality of all
beings, and the miracle of existence itself.
Text
Why,
who makes much of a miracle?
As to me, I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love—or sleep in the bed at night with any one
I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with my mother,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds—or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring;
These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring—yet each distinct and in its place.
To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with miracles,
Every foot of the interior swarms with miracles.
To me the sea is a continual miracle,
The fishes that swim—the rocks—the motion of the waves—the ships with men in
them,
What stranger miracles are there?
🪶 Summary of “Miracles”
In
this poem, Whitman expresses his deep wonder and appreciation for the
everyday experiences of life.
He says that everything around him is a miracle — walking the streets of
Manhattan, seeing the sky, feeling the sea water, sitting with his loved ones,
watching bees, animals, and birds — all these fill him with awe.
Whitman
rejects the idea that miracles are rare, supernatural events.
Instead, he believes that every moment, every person, and every aspect of
nature is a miracle.
For him, life itself is a divine, continuous miracle, and the universe
is full of wonder if we learn to see it that way.
🩵 Paraphrase (Stanza-wise Explanation)
|
Lines |
Paraphrase / Meaning |
|
Why, who
makes much of a miracle? |
The poet
questions those who treat miracles as something extraordinary or rare. |
|
As to me, I
know of nothing else but miracles... |
For Whitman,
everything in life is a miracle — he sees them everywhere, in every act. |
|
Whether I
walk the streets of Manhattan... |
Even simple
daily actions, like walking through New York or observing the sky, are
miracles to him. |
|
Or wade with
naked feet along the beach... |
Feeling the
cool water or standing under trees in the forest gives him a sense of wonder. |
|
Or talk by
day with anyone I love... |
Spending time
or sharing affection with loved ones is also miraculous. |
|
Or sit at
table at dinner with my mother... |
Everyday
family moments are sacred and full of divine beauty. |
|
Or look at
strangers opposite me riding in the car... |
Even
strangers he sees have miraculous existence. |
|
Or watch
honey-bees... |
The activity
of bees, animals, birds, and insects — all show the perfection of nature. |
|
Or the thin
curve of the new moon... |
He marvels at
the beauty of celestial objects too. |
|
These with
the rest... are to me miracles... |
Every single
thing, though unique, is part of the same grand miracle. |
|
To me every
hour... every inch of space... |
Every moment
and every space, whether seen or unseen, is filled with miracles. |
|
To me the sea
is a continual miracle... |
The ocean and
all within it constantly amaze him. |
|
What stranger
miracles are there? |
He concludes
that nothing could be more miraculous than what already exists around us. |
🌍 Themes
- Wonder in
the Ordinary:
Whitman finds miracles in everyday things — nature, people, and daily life. - Spirituality
of Nature:
He views nature as sacred and divine, expressing his transcendental belief that God is present in all creation. - Equality
and Universality:
Every element of existence — big or small — is equally miraculous. - Optimism
and Faith in Life:
Whitman celebrates life with gratitude and awe.
🧠 Poetic Devices
|
Device |
Example / Use in Poem |
Effect |
|
Free Verse |
Entire poem
(no rhyme or regular meter) |
Reflects
natural rhythm of thought and speech. |
|
Repetition |
“To me…” and
“miracle” |
Emphasizes
his belief that everything is a miracle. |
|
Imagery |
“Walk the
streets of Manhattan,” “curve of the new moon” |
Creates vivid
sensory experience. |
|
Alliteration |
“wonderfulness
of insects in the air” |
Musical flow
to the language. |
|
Parallelism |
Repeated
sentence structure (“Or… Or…”) |
Builds rhythm
and unity. |
|
Tone |
Celebratory,
spiritual, reflective |
Expresses awe
and joy in existence. |
📘 Important
Vocabulary
|
Word |
Meaning |
|
Miracle |
Something
wonderful or beyond explanation |
|
Manhattan |
A borough of
New York City |
|
Forenoon |
Morning |
|
Exquisite |
Extremely
beautiful and delicate |
|
Curve |
Bent or
rounded line/shape |
|
Swarm |
Move or be
present in large numbers |
|
Cubic inch |
Small unit of
volume – symbolizing how even the tiniest space is miraculous |
🌟 A. Short
Answer Questions
Q1. Who is the poet of the poem “Miracles”?
Ans: The poem “Miracles”
is written by Walt Whitman.
Q2. From which collection has the poem been
taken?
Ans: The poem is
taken from Whitman’s collection Leaves of Grass.
Q3. What does the poet consider a miracle?
Ans: Everything in
the world — nature, people, daily experiences — is a miracle to him.
Q4. What is the setting of the poem?
Ans: The setting
shifts between urban life (streets of Manhattan) and natural
surroundings (beach, woods, sea).
Q5. Which city does the poet mention in the
poem?
Ans: The poet
mentions Manhattan, a borough of New York City.
Q6. What does Whitman call a “continual
miracle”?
Ans: He calls the
sea a continual miracle.
Q7. What does the poet see when he looks at
strangers?
Ans: He sees miracles
even in the faces of strangers sitting opposite him.
Q8. What is the poet’s attitude toward life?
Ans: The poet’s
attitude is optimistic, spiritual, and full of gratitude.
Q9. How does the poet view nature?
Ans: Nature is divine
and miraculous, revealing the presence of God everywhere.
Q10. What is the tone of the poem?
Ans: The tone is joyful,
reflective, and celebratory.
🌼 B. Medium
Answer Questions
Q11. What, according to Whitman, are the real
miracles of life?
Ans:
Whitman believes that real miracles are not supernatural events, but common
experiences we live every day — walking through cities, watching bees,
talking to loved ones, or observing the sea and sky.
He teaches that every inch of the universe and every moment of life is
filled with wonder if we learn to see it that way.
Q12. Why does Whitman question the meaning of
“miracle”?
Ans:
Whitman begins the poem by questioning, “Who makes much of a miracle?”
to challenge people’s narrow belief that miracles are rare.
He argues that everything around us is miraculous — from the smallest
insect to the vast ocean.
His question is a way of awakening our sense of wonder toward ordinary life.
Q13. Explain the line: “To me every hour of the
light and dark is a miracle.”
Ans:
Whitman finds both day and night equally miraculous because every hour
brings new experiences and beauty.
He sees the passage of time, the alternation of light and darkness, as part of
nature’s continuous wonder.
Q14. What message does the poet convey through
the poem “Miracles”?
Ans:
The poem conveys the message that life itself is a miracle.
We should not look for extraordinary events to feel amazed; instead, we must
recognize the divinity in everyday experiences — love, nature, people,
and time.
Q15. What examples of miracles does Whitman
give in the poem?
Ans:
He lists many examples such as —
- walking in
Manhattan,
- standing
under trees,
- talking to
loved ones,
- sitting
with his mother at dinner,
- watching
bees and birds,
- looking at
strangers,
- admiring
the new moon, and
- seeing the
sea with ships and fish.
All these are, to him, equally miraculous.
Q16. How does the poem reflect Whitman’s
philosophy of life?
Ans:
Whitman’s philosophy is rooted in Transcendentalism — belief in the
divine presence in all things.
In “Miracles,” he shows that every being and every moment is sacred.
His poetry celebrates democracy, equality, nature, and the unity of all life.
Q17. Why is the poem written in free verse?
Ans:
Whitman uses free verse to express the natural rhythm of his thoughts
and emotions.
The absence of rhyme or fixed meter reflects the freedom and boundless
energy of life, which is itself a miracle.
Q18. What does the poet feel when he looks at
the sea?
Ans:
He calls the sea a “continual miracle.”
He is fascinated by its waves, rocks, ships, and the life within it.
For him, the sea symbolizes the eternal mystery and movement of life.
Q19. How does Whitman find miracles in human
relationships?
Ans:
He finds miracles in talking to loved ones, sleeping beside them,
and sharing meals with family.
These intimate, simple acts are, for him, holy experiences of love and
connection.
Q20. What role does imagery play in the poem?
Ans:
Whitman’s vivid imagery — of Manhattan streets, trees, bees, the new moon,
and the sea — helps readers see the beauty in common scenes.
His sensory details make the poem alive and visually rich.
🌈 C. Long Answer
Questions
Q21. Discuss “Miracles” as a celebration of the
ordinary.
Ans:
“Miracles” celebrates the beauty of ordinary life.
Whitman refuses to limit miracles to rare, supernatural events.
He believes that every sight, sound, and touch is a sign of divinity —
from walking in the city to feeling the sea water.
The poem invites readers to look at daily life with spiritual awareness and
gratitude.
It reflects Whitman’s faith in the sacredness of the universe and his joy
in simple living.
Q22. Explain how “Miracles” reflects Whitman’s
Transcendentalist belief.
Ans:
Transcendentalism teaches that God and the divine spirit dwell in all beings
and nature.
In “Miracles,” Whitman illustrates this by showing every aspect of the world
as miraculous — people, animals, and even space itself.
He finds no separation between the natural and the spiritual.
This belief leads to his optimism, universal love, and democratic vision, all
visible in this poem.
Q23. How does Whitman’s style in “Miracles”
enhance the poem’s meaning?
Ans:
Whitman’s free verse, repetition, and cataloguing technique
mirror the abundance of miracles he describes.
The open structure allows his thoughts to flow naturally, like life itself.
The repeated phrase “To me…” emphasizes his personal perception.
Through imagery and rhythm, he transforms simple details into spiritual
revelations, making the poem both conversational and profound.
Q24. What attitude toward nature and humanity
does Whitman reveal in this poem?
Ans:
Whitman shows deep respect and reverence for both nature and humanity.
He sees no difference between human life and the natural world — both
are manifestations of one divine energy.
Whether it’s a bee at work or a mother at dinner, every scene expresses the
unity and holiness of existence.
Q25. Critically analyze the poem as a spiritual
reflection on life.
Ans:
“Miracles” is not just a poem about beauty but about spiritual awareness.
Whitman teaches that divine reality exists in the material world, not
beyond it.
He rejects the need for religious miracles or proof of God’s power, declaring
that life itself is the greatest miracle.
Through his simple yet powerful observations, the poet transforms our
understanding of the everyday, guiding us to live with faith, wonder, and
gratitude.
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