Go Directly to the Creation

Rating:
Summary: The spirit of the Leaves
Review: This audio book gives a good overall introduction to Whitman's poetry- if you do not feel like tackling his monumental _Leaves of Grass_ first hand. Of course if you have read the Leaves, it is a nice bit of review and recollection. The cosmic consciousness of our greatest transidentalist poet shines through in it's strength, naturalness, and purity. This is not weak and delicate stuff.

There are fairly long interludes of nature sounds (bird song, insects, frogs, and running water and waves) and gentle guitar music between the poems, which gives the listener time to get into a receptive frame of mind, and to reflect on what was just heard. The reader, Lyn Dalebout, has a pleasant and expressive reading voice. I personally didn't find the background music and sounds during the readings to be distracting.

The poems included are:

A Clear Midnight,
A Prairie Sunset,
After the Dazzle of Day,
Excelsior,
Nature and Democracy, Morality
Song at Sunset,
Song of Occupations,
Song of the Open Road,
Song of the Rolling Earth,
Song of the Universal,
This Compost,
Voice of the Rain

Remember- cheer-up slaves and horrify despots!

Rating:
Summary: Whitman's Go Directly to the Creation
Review: While I enjoyed the selections of Whitman's poetry, and the speaker's voice, I thought the background music was a little overpowering and repetitive. Good use of rain and water sound effects. Overall a good experience, and a pleasant introduction to Whitman's poetry.