Paraphrase - Song of the Open Road

Paraphrase / Summary - Song of the Open Road 

'Song of the Open Road' is one of the poems in the collection of the American poet Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. The speaker of the poem is in a cheerful, open-minded mood and has set out on a journey of freedom on an open road. His destination is not fixed. For him, life is journey and not a
destination. He has chosen the open road which allows people of all categories, the rich and the poor,
get equal opportunity to travel and by this the poor speaker upholds his democratic values. He is in
complete control of his life, he is in charge and he is only deciding which path to choose.
Right from the beginning the speaker announces that he is not searching for any material success
as he says, "I ask not good-fortune." He is satisfied, that is why he is 'light-hearted. He does not want
luck because he is carefree and cheerful and strong enough to make his own luck.
The speaker is free and untroubled. The road is the symbol of progress and mobility. He has
come out of all worldly stresses, petty fights and has decided to relax. He is of the opinion that once he
steps into this open road, he has all the time by his side. The relaxing road gives him an overwhelming
pleasure and all the problems fade away. He no longer feels troubled or stressed but 'strong and content.
The speaker is so content with himself that he is happy to be separated from others. He does not have any desire to reach the stars and know that they are fine whatever they are. He gives a hint that he
does not want to include himself with the people who belong to 'constellations, maybe he is indicating
towards the influential people. He does not need them. His journey from community to the natural
world makes him understand realities. He is on the road to mobility and the reward he gets is true
happiness and wisdom.
The last stanza is a parenthe sis since it is given in brackets. The poem could have been complete
without these lines. But they are like after thoughts, a self-confession, an aside where the speaker
accepts that he has got problems. They are his burdens but he has no complaints against them. On
the contrary, he refers to them as 'delicious'. He does not disown them but relishes them. And so he is
not worried to carry them wherever he is going. He and his burdens share a meaningful relationship.
This acceptance of life as it is, gives the speaker relaxation and happiness as well as opportunity to be
true to himself.