Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Marthe48

(22,372 posts)
Wed Nov 12, 2025, 12:37 PM Wednesday

A Noiseless Patient Spider by Walt Whitman

This is one of my favorite poems, revisited today:

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45473/a-noiseless-patient-spider

A Noiseless Patient Spider

By Walt Whitman
A noiseless patient spider,
I mark’d where on a little promontory it stood isolated,
Mark’d how to explore the vacant vast surrounding,
It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself,
Ever unreeling them, ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you O my soul where you stand,
Surrounded, detached, in measureless oceans of space,
Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing, seeking the spheres to connect them,
Till the bridge you will need be form’d, till the ductile anchor hold,
Till the gossamer thread you fling catch somewhere, O my soul.


2 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A Noiseless Patient Spider by Walt Whitman (Original Post) Marthe48 Wednesday OP
Thank you for this, Marthe. I have bookmarked it. Dorothy V Wednesday #1
A wonderful poem, new to me nuxvomica Wednesday #2

nuxvomica

(13,783 posts)
2. A wonderful poem, new to me
Wed Nov 12, 2025, 02:11 PM
Wednesday

I especially like the last two lines of the first stanza. There's a surprising energy to them. What a nice little break from my day. Thanks for posting!

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»A Noiseless Patient Spide...