A Glimpse

Whitman’s poem can be classified by readers as a lyric poem, as it relates the personal thoughts and feelings of the speaker. The first line of the poem catches readers off guard with its inverted word order. The direct object, “a glimpse through an interstice” is “caught” (Line 1). The subject of this sentence, the individual who is “catching” this glimpse, is left unnamed. The anonymity of the subject position has a dual effect: creating a tone of mystery and suspense for the readers while also putting the reader into the subject position themself and making them feel as though they are a part of the text. An “interstice” can be defined as a small opening or gap. Seeing a “glimpse” through an “interstice” implies that the subject is peeking, or spying. They are looking into a private space or world that is not intended for public view. The fact that they are only seeing a “glimpse” means that they are only seeing a partial image or view of this private setting - not the full picture.

The exact description of this “glimpse” that is seen by the speaker, the reader, or the unnamed subject comes together in the second line.