SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD [VIDEO PRESENTATION OF SEC. 1] & PDF link to Summary & Appreciation
Channel: Sudhir Khullar
Date: 2020-04-19

PDF Link to summary and appreciation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19pEm0fne9Zo1Ke2tDNSF3X_vqfHrgWwg/view?usp=sharing
"Song of the Open Road" is a poem by Sir Walt(er) Whitman from his 1856 collection ‘Leaves of Grass’. It is widely admired by people of all age groups. 
It symbolically speaks about self-awareness, free-will, tenderness of heart, mobility, love and freedom. 
Out of the fifteen sections of the original poem, Yuvakbharati English book of Std. XII has prescribed the first section of the poem. This multi-themed poem has been written in free verse, and motivates us to cross hurdles, be optimistic and live in a free and democratic society. The title is apt as it depicts the poet’s free will and carefree tone. It appeals to the readers as it urges them to join the poet’s journey of the open road which is democratic and free. 
Indoors is a place of secret and silent despair. It's only roads where people walk with some meaning and purpose. A road is classless and the most democratic segment of a society.Road symbolizes mobility. So don't stay at one place, move ahead. Mobility makes you wise and versatile! 
Summary of the first section:
Sir Walt(er) Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road” is a celebration of travel - an ode to himself or any democratic individual. He embarks upon a journey “Afoot and light-hearted…” He is free to choose wherever he wishes. He chooses his own journey after being fed up of experiencing four-walled home spun politics, high philosophies and bookish disciplines. He feels self-contented and doesn’t desire anything more in life. He doesn’t want the influence of powerful or wiser people who appear good in their power and persona (constellations). He doesn’t want their support as he himself is his good fortune. He is the maker of his own luck. Mother Earth would take care of him. He appeals to his fellow-travellers to travel with him on that democratic path in which he himself is travelling. The powers and influence of great people are nothing when compared to a winding, tortuous road which bears stresses and turns of events due to passengers. The road bears our stress (burden), still takes us to the goals we had set for ourselves before commencing. There may be situations when difficulties would arise, but no shortcut or escaping would work. He tells the fellow Americans to understand the concept of freedom and break free from the fetters of conventional rules. In conclusion, he separates himself from the rest of the world by keeping himself in brackets and admits that he admires his delicious burdens because of their symbiotic relationship with each other - burdens fill him; he fills them in return!
Regards
Sudhir Khullar