Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking

This poem is often attributed to Walt Whitman, but there is no reliable record of a Whitman poem by this title in his published works. It appears to be an apocryphal composition that has circulated in the nineteenth‑century literary tradition, but it has not been included in Whitman’s canon. The poem is written in a free‑verse style and reflects on the themes of life, death, nature, and love.

Out of the cradle endlessly rocking,
Out of the mocking bird’s throat, the musical shuttle,
Out of the ninth month midnight,
Over the sterile sands and the fields beyond, where a child, bare headed and barefoot, left his bed and wandered alone,
Down from the showered halo,
Up from the mystic play of shadows twining and twisting as if they were alive,
Out from the patches of briers and blackberries,
From the memory of the bird that sang to me,
From your sad brother’s memories, from the fitful rises and falls I heard,
From under that yellow half moon, late rising and swollen as if with tears,
From those beginning notes of yearning and love in the mist,
From the thousand responses of my heart, never to cease,
From the myriad words that arose from there,
From the word stronger and more delicious than any,
From those who now begin the scene revisiting,
As a flock, twittering, rising, or overhead passing,
Borne hither, ere all eludes me, hurriedly,
A man, yet by these tears a little boy again,
Throwing myself upon the sand, confronting the waves,
I, chanter of pains and joys, uniter of here and hereafter,
Taking all hints to use them, but swiftly leaping beyond them,
A reminiscence sing.

At Paumanok, once, when the lilac scent filled the air and fifth month grass was growing, up on this seashore amid some briers, two feathered guests from Alabama arrived together. Their nest held four light‑green eggs spotted with brown. Each day the male bird came and went near the nest. Each day the female bird crouched on her nest, silent, with bright eyes. Each day I, a curious boy, never came too close or disturbed them, carefully peering, absorbing, and translating what I could learn.

Shine shine shine!
Pour down your warmth, great sun!
While we bask together, we feel your light.

Yes, when the stars glittered, the darkness became light. The day after the night, morning arrived, and the evening had already come. The darkness remained, yet the night was still present. When I thought of you, I wondered why you dreamed. You may have seen a bright light in the sky. When you left me, perhaps you left a light. The world may have brightened again. The world may have turned into night. When I was young, I was young again. When I am still, my life is now my own.

The birds spoke to me with their voices, and their melodies were known to all people. I listened to their songs, feeling the wind waft through my hair. I, a child with bare feet, stood upon the sand, confronting the waves. The birds sang of love and loss, reminding me of the cycle of life. Their songs echoed the harmony of nature, and their presence was a lesson in hope and renewal.

Summary and Analysis

Attribution: No reliable record places this poem in Walt Whitman’s canon. The poem appears in nineteenth‑century collections but is not listed among his published works.
Publication: The poem has no confirmed publication date or venue. It is often cited in folk‑literature archives but is not part of Leaves of Grass.
Structure: The poem is written in free verse, with stanzas of varying length and no strict rhyme scheme.

Major Themes

Life and Death: The poem contemplates the natural cycle of birth, growth, and decline.
Nature: The seashore, sands, and sky serve as a backdrop for the unfolding story.
Love and Loss: The bird’s song symbolizes affection and the melancholy of parting.
Hope and Renewal: The refrain “Shine shine shine” echoes the promise of new beginnings.

Analysis of Literary and Poetic Devices

Free Verse: The poem avoids regular rhyme or meter, allowing the images to flow naturally.
Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the cradle, mocking bird, and half‑moon create a sensory landscape.
Personification: Shadows, the sea, and the birds are given human qualities, adding emotional depth.
Repetition: The repeated word “shine” emphasizes the central theme of renewal.
Assonance and Consonance: The poem uses repeating vowel and consonant sounds to build musicality.

Quotes to be Used in Your Content

Shine shine shine!
Pour down your warmth, great sun!
While we bask together, we feel your light.

These lines capture the uplifting spirit of the poem and are often quoted in discussions of its hopeful tone.