As fans of Walt Whitman know, he urged the pleasure of limitless freedom on his readers. For example, in Song of the Open Road, Whitman wrote:

"Allons - the road is before us!

It is safe - I have tried it - my own feet have tried it as well - be

not detain'd"

and...

"...will you come travel with me?

Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?"

I have been collecting metaphors all my life, and despite teaching literature for many years at secondary school and college level, never was fortunate enough to have photos like those taken by Tom Watkin of Leighton Stultz and Danie Yssel, to use in my classes.

The moment they arrived, I called Leighton to expound as only an old teacher can do when faced with something that is truly inspirational. And I immediately thought of the poems of Walt Whitman  -- perhaps you too will agree that there is truly something 'Whitmanesgue' in these photos.

And the more I looked at the photos I thought about so many wonderful moments in my own life  -- and I even hauled out the anthologies I had used in my courses years ago, and turned back the clock for the moment -- and yes, Tom and Leighton and Danie -- the metaphor lives and breathes, alive and well!

Of course, I was also reminded of one of my favorites of Walt Whitman's poems 'We two boys together clinging' and when I talked with Tom Watkin, he said it was one of his too.

Here are some lines from it:

"WE two boys together clinging,  
One the other never leaving,  
Up and down the roads going—North and South excursions making,  
Power enjoying ---"

and for the rest of it, click here: http://www.bartleby.com/142/56.html

Perhaps as you consider the photos, you too will start to collect metaphors too, or add to your collection.

If you have comments, please email me at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it   I would really enjoy hearing from you.

Photos of Leighton Stultz and Danie Yssel are by Thomas Watkin and are copyright 2006.