More loafing…
“Loafing here deep
among the trees […]” is where you’ll find Mr. Whitman in this installment of Specimen Days titled “Loafing in The
Woods.” It seems as though loafing for Walt would akin to anyone else being
engrossed in serious thought. While reflecting on this entry, I couldn’t help
but think of the old adage “work smarter, not harder.” Whitman seems to be the
master at working smarter and seems to be constantly loafing. However, while
loafing generally refers to passing time at leisure, Walt’s loafing seems to
share more in common with scientific observations. Put it this way, if your job was to observe the changes of
the coastline of the Pacific Ocean and you loved the outdoors and the beach:
would you not be loafing while doing your job? Whitman’s loafing was a part of
his scientific method. Loaf/observe then write. Maybe this explains the organic
feel of Leaves of Grass.
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