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The mother condemned for a witch and burnt with dry wood…

“The mother condemned for a witch and burnt with dry wood, and her children gazing on; The hounded slave that flags in the race and leans by the fence, blowing and covered with sweat, The twinges that sting like needles his legs and neck, The murderous buckshot and the bullets, All these I feel or…” quote by Walt Whitman
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“The mother condemned for a witch and burnt with dry wood, and her children gazing on; The hounded slave that flags in the race and leans by the fence, blowing and covered with sweat, The twinges that sting like needles his legs and neck, The murderous buckshot and the bullets, All these I feel or am.”

Walt Whitman

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker empathizes with suffering, describing vivid, brutal images of oppression and violence to evoke shared humanity.

In simple terms: He feels the pain of others.

Key Takeaway

Recognize shared suffering.

Themes

empathy oppression humanity

Mood

somber reflective

Type

poetic social

When to use this quote

  • reading poetry
  • social justice activism
  • mental health awareness
  • historical reflection

Key Concepts

social critique vivid imagery

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does witnessing suffering affect you?
  • What can you do to alleviate it?
A Different Perspective

May overlook personal agency in systemic issues.

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