Jonathan Mucera                                                                                    Eng 102

In Walt Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry,” a recurring trend in the class’s annotations is the theme of connections across time and space, particularly through the shared human experience. Throughout the poem, Whitman focuses on how the commuters making the same daily crossing are somehow united by this common occurrence, whether in the past, present, or future.  The class’s  annotations deepen our understanding of the poem by highlighting Whitman’s message that individual experiences are part of a universal awareness that transcends time.  Ultimately, these ideas allow us to reflect and expand upon the concept of the interconnectedness of humanity.

Walt Whitman’s “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” examines the shared experience of crossing the river by ferry between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Whitman compares the ferry ride to the passage of time and the common bonds among people regardless of when they lived. Whitman often speaks to future generations, suggesting that the same sights, emotions, and experiences he has encountered will be shared by them as well. For example, as one of my classmates annotates: “Whitman is thinking about people in the future who will take the same journey he is taking.  It reminds me that our everyday routines, like commuting, connect us to people who came before and will come after us.  We’re all part of the same cycle, even if we live in different times.”  This theme of connections across time and space fosters a sense of unity between people of different generations. 

Whitman’s perspective expands our understanding of the poem’s significance by revealing his philosophy on the collective nature of human experience, and how this idea serves as a central theme in the poem. Many annotations focus on Whitman’s direct address to the reader, particularly how he speaks not just to his contemporaries but also to people in the future.  Whitman reflects upon time and distance and states, “The others that are to follow me, the ties between me and them, the certainty of others, the life, love, sight, hearing of others.”  A fellow classmate annotates and supports his remarks by stating, “The poet reminds us that we all influence each other, and that our successes and challenges are linked to those around us.  It’s like a river that flows by gathering water from difference places; as students, we learn from each other and create a shared experience.”  This universal theme of common experiences that unite us is reinforced over and over throughout the poem.

This pattern in the annotations highlights how Whitman views the human experience as continuous and collective. By addressing future readers, he establishes a sense of intimacy with those he will never meet, suggesting that our emotions, thoughts, and observations are not confined to a specific moment in time but are instead part of a larger, timeless experience. This interpretation helps explain the poem’s central idea that human experience—no matter where or when it occurs—is interconnected.

As summarized by a fellow classmate, “He (Whitman) is curious about his fellow commuters.  Each one has their own struggles, joys, stories and lives.  Sharing these journeys alongside people naturally invites curiosity, especially when you consider the fleeting nature of it all.  It is something I find myself thinking at times in the trains.  Some of the faces have become familiar to me, and while there is a sense of familiarity, we nonetheless remain strangers.  I wonder who they are?  Where they are going”.  Another classmate commented, “Whitman seems to be directly speaking to us, the readers in the future, as if he knows we will read this poem and feel the same things he felt.” Another annotation pointed to the line, “Just as you feel when you look on the river and sky, so I felt,” interpreting this as Whitman’s attempt to erase the barriers between himself and future generations. All of these observations underscore the poem’s theme of timeless connection, as Whitman deliberately blurs the lines between past, present, and future by imagining his own feelings with those who will come after him.

The text together with the pattern in annotations reflects how Whitman views the human experience as recurring and infinite.  By addressing future readers, he establishes a sense of intimacy with people he will never meet, suggesting that our emotions, thoughts, and observations are not confined to a specific moment in time but are instead part of a larger, timeless experience. This interpretation helps illuminate the poem’s central idea that human experiences—no matter when they occur—are interconnected, expanding the reader’s understanding of the universalism Whitman seeks to express.

This trend in the annotations reinforces Whitman’s vision of the natural world and human experience as consistent and unifying. By focusing on shared sights and similar details, Whitman suggests that even as time moves forward, certain aspects of life remain the same, allowing us to connect with both the past and the future through these common experiences. The many annotations assist us as readers in understanding that while we may exist in different times, we are united through the things we see and feel, reinforcing the poem’s central theme of interconnectedness.

This recurring pattern in the poem helps us to explore the cyclical nature of life and the continuity of human experience. By referring to the ferry as a space where people of different generations come together, Whitman uses it as a platform for a broader, human journey, one that transcends the limitations of time. The text and annotations help expand our understanding of how Whitman uses the ferry to symbolize both physical and metaphysical connections between people, reinforcing the poem’s central message of unity.The trend in my classmates’ annotations on “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” consistently supports the theme of connection across time and space, particularly through shared human experiences. By focusing on Whitman’s direct address to future generations, his expression of shared sights and experiences, and the ferry as a symbol of connection, the class’s annotations collectively help to deepen our understanding of the poem’s meaning. Whitman’s contemplation of time and the continuity of human experience invites readers to consider themselves as part of a larger, universal narrative, where individual moments are linked by shared emotions, observations, and experiences. The annotations highlight the significance of this theme, helping readers appreciate the timelessness of Whitman’s vision and his belief in the interconnectedness of all humanity. Through this lens, “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” becomes not just a poem about a single ferry ride, but a reflection on the shared journey of life itself.