How does Whitman express the grief of Americans during the funeral procession of Lincoln?

Answer

How does Whitman express the grief of Americans during the funeral procession of Lincoln? [NU: 2015]

Walt Whitman’s (1819-1892) “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” is a long elegy written after the death of President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. One of the most powerful parts of the poem is Whitman’s description of Lincoln’s funeral procession. The coffin was carried from Washington, D.C. to Springfield, Illinois. Thousands of people stood in silence to pay respect. Whitman captures not only his own sorrow but also the grief of all Americans. The procession becomes a symbol of national mourning.

The Coffin Passes: Whitman imagines the coffin moving through different places in America. The coffin passes through the towns, small lanes, and old forests. 

“Amid lanes and through old woods…

Amid the grass in the fields…”

Flowers have just started to bloom after winter. The coffin passes through fields full of fresh green grass on both sides of the road. It also passes through fields of tall wheat and apple orchards. These images show that Lincoln’s death has touched every corner of the nation. The coffin is not just in one city; it travels across fields, forests, towns, and villages. Everywhere, people gather in silence to mourn Lincoln. The whole country and all Americans are a part of the funeral procession.

The Cloud of National Grief: Lincoln’s coffin moves day and night while a heavy cloud covers the land.

“Through day and night with the great cloud darkening the land.”

Here, the “great cloud” is a symbol of sadness and grief. Lincoln’s death covers the whole nation in deep sadness. All Americans are grieving for the loss of their great leader. Just as a cloud hides the sun, sadness hides the joy of victory after the Civil War. The people had hoped to celebrate peace, but instead they are forced to mourn the loss of their leader.

Mourning and Respect of All Americans: People are