Whitman's vital spirit in “Song of Myself” I. IntroductionThe American poet, essayist, journalist, and humanist Walt Whitman (1819—1892) lived in a period of transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both visions into his works. His poetic writing combines lyrical verse and prose narrative, thus creating a new form of literature on which modern poetry thrives: free verse. His masterpiece Leaves of Grass is a collection of loosely connected poems, each representing Whitman's celebration of his philosophy of life. and humanity. "Song of Myself" is one of them, which fully shows the poet's philosophy on the topics of life and the universe. Poetry is filled with vital spirit, i.e. the ontological essence of the entire universe, both material and spiritual, which is in permanent motion and can only be understood through direct experience, rather than metaphysical meditation or worship religious. This essay will analyze the vital spirit in Whitman's poems by interpreting the religious mysticism of “myself” and the revaluation of the body, and how the almighty “I” who serves as the narrator proves himself to be an incarnation of God.II. The Religious Mysticism of "Myself" Like the Romantics and Transcendentalists of New England, Whitman was strongly influenced by Eastern mysticism, particularly Hinduism, which insists that all things are created by some kind of mysterious force. Whitman's idea of ​​God is largely influenced by this mysticism. At first glance, “Song of Myself” seems arrogant because the poet is praising himself. But upon closer examination it is not difficult to find that what the poet is praising is the Higher Self, which is the embodiment of God and the entire uni... revaluation and exaltation of the physical body, it is not difficult for us to conclude that the essence of “Song of Myself” is a passionate praise to life. The poem fully expresses Whitman's celebration of the force of life, which pushes the universe forward. The vital spirit is the key concept to summarize and outline this American poet and his poems. To manifest the life spirit, each “me” must experience and encounter the world and nature on both a physical and spiritual level. The body and sexual love deserve as much praise as the soul. Even "God" is no longer the One in the strictly Christian sense, but the universe itself animated by the vital spirit, by the full and complete realization of each "self" in the universe. Consequently, the way to discover and meet “God” is to return to “myself” by embracing human nature and every aspect of life..