[meteorite-list] Year of Meteors [1859-60]; "The Portent (1859)"

[Sean T. Murray]

Is it possible that they were not actually speaking of a meteor/meteorite, 
but referencing the Wilhelm Tempel 1859 comet?


> ----- Original Message ----- 

> From: "drtanuki" <drtanuki at yahoo.com>

> To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>; "Ken Igarashi" 

> <drtanuki at gmail.com>

> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:09 AM

> Subject: [meteorite-list] Year of Meteors [1859-60]; "The Portent (1859)"

>

>

>> Dear List,

>>  I happened upon Whitman`s poem, Year of Meteors [1859-60],

>> tonight.

>>

>>  ..."Nor the comet that came unannounced out of the north flaring in 

>> heaven,

>> Nor the strange huge meteor-procession dazzling and clear shooting

>> over our heads,

>> (A moment, a moment long it sail'd its balls of unearthly light over

>> our heads,

>> Then departed, dropt in the night, and was gone;)

>> Of such, and fitful as they, I sing--with gleams from them would

>> gleam and patch these chants,

>> Your chants, O year all mottled with evil and good--year of forebodings!

>> Year of comets and meteors transient and strange--lo! even here one

>> equally transient and strange!

>> As I flit through you hastily, soon to fall and be gone, what is this 

>> chant,

>> What am I myself but one of your meteors?" [FULL TEXT BELOW]

>>

>>  Does anyone know of which meteor (large bolide) he is speaking of.

>>   Also a reference that in 1859 December, Herman Melville wrote "The 

>> Portent (1859)”

>> "But the streaming beard is shown

>> (Weird John Brown),

>> The meteor of the war."

>>

>> The comet was most likely Comet 1859(1)- Comet Temple1.

>> http://deepimpact.umd.edu/science/tempel1-discoverer.html

>>

>> Thank you.

>> Dirk Ross...Tokyo

>> www.meteoritesjapan.com

>>

>> Year of Meteors [1859-60]

>> by Walt Whitman

>> (1819-1892)

>> [FULL TEXT]

>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

>> Year of meteors! brooding year!

>> I would bind in words retrospective some of your deeds and signs,

>> I would sing your contest for the 19th Presidentiad,

>> I would sing how an old man, tall, with white hair, mounted the

>> scaffold in Virginia,

>> (I was at hand, silent I stood with teeth shut close, I watch'd,

>> I stood very near you old man when cool and indifferent, but trembling

>> with age and your unheal'd wounds you mounted the scaffold;)

>> I would sing in my copious song your census returns of the States,

>> The tables of population and products, I would sing of your ships

>> and their cargoes,

>> The proud black ships of Manhattan arriving, some fill'd with

>> immigrants, some from the isthmus with cargoes of gold,

>> Songs thereof would I sing, to all that hitherward comes would welcome 

>> give,

>> And you would I sing, fair stripling! welcome to you from me, young

>> prince of England!

>> (Remember you surging Manhattan's crowds as you pass'd with your

>> cortege of nobles?

>> There in the crowds stood I, and singled you out with attachment;)

>> Nor forget I to sing of the wonder, the ship as she swam up my bay,

>> Well-shaped and stately the Great Eastern swam up my bay, she was

>> 600 feet long,

>> Her moving swiftly surrounded by myriads of small craft I forget not

>> to sing;

>> Nor the comet that came unannounced out of the north flaring in heaven,

>> Nor the strange huge meteor-procession dazzling and clear shooting

>> over our heads,

>> (A moment, a moment long it sail'd its balls of unearthly light over

>> our heads,

>> Then departed, dropt in the night, and was gone;)

>> Of such, and fitful as they, I sing--with gleams from them would

>> gleam and patch these chants,

>> Your chants, O year all mottled with evil and good--year of forebodings!

>> Year of comets and meteors transient and strange--lo! even here one

>> equally transient and strange!

>> As I flit through you hastily, soon to fall and be gone, what is this 

>> chant,

>> What am I myself but one of your meteors?

>>

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>