Specimen Days: Cedar-Apples

In this installment, Whitman describes his first experience with Cedar Apples; he calls them a "peculiar fruit," and talks of his happiness upon discovering them and their, "homely beauty and novelty." He describes the "profusion", or abundance, of the fruit twice in the same sentence. It makes for an interesting commentary when one contrasts this idea with the last line of the poem. Whitman ends the installment by saying: "These cedar-apples last only a little while however, and soon crumble and fade."

Just like the lifespan of the cedar-apples, this entry is short. Whitman spends only two (admittedly longer) sentences describing his experience, and then with the third and final sentence, abruptly undermines it. Although the cedar-apples are abundant, they are short lived. I think that this turn from discovery to pessimism may be telling regarding Whitman's personal view of the world at this stage of his life. This entry comes after many about the Civil War, hospital conditions, and most importantly the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. With this entry, Whitman seems to be saying that hope, and life, are much too fleeting. It is an interesting interpretation to consider the cedar-apples representative of young soldiers- initially abundant and new, but as they are plucked from their "bush", or home, they crumble and fade, and are not able to survive (literally) in the face of war.