In “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” Walt Whitman portrays the daily commute, which we might experience as mundane, to be full of significance. He makes a good case for a connection between individual and the masses of commuters and this is seen in: 

How he observes, and acknowledges his fellow commuters, understand and accept their unique stories by observing and being empathetic. By his use of words like “we”, “us” and “together”, he emphasizes their shared experiences throughout the poem. “We understand then do we not?, What I promis’d without mentioning it, have you not accepted?”(Section 8) as he expresses their mutual understanding in terms of diversity, complexity and urban experiences which creates a sense of community and challenges urban anonymity.

 He shows empathy, ⁠”I am with you, you men and women of a generation, or ever so many generations hence” and ‘‘Just as any of you is one of a living crowd, I was one of a crowd’’ (Section 3) by expressing how he envisions their experiences, imagines their thoughts, and bridges the gap between individuals. 

He further describes the ferry, river, cityscape, and highlights timelessness and continuity while creating a sense of shared space. “Fifty years hence, others will see them as they cross, the sun half an hour high, A hundred years hence, or ever so many hundred years hence, others will see them”(Section 2) he makes temporal connections by linking the past, present, and future commuters, while celebrating American democracy, with emphasis on equality and unity.

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