The label of mystic poet is broad, but it is generally used to describe poets whose work explores the mysterious nature of metaphysics and the exhilaration of mystical experiences. They also tend to write about the concept of the human soul and how it relates to the rest of the universe. Walt Whitman does all of these things in “Song of Myself,” and he could therefore be considered to be a mystic poet.

In this poem, Whitman celebrates his understanding of his self and how he is connected with all things in the universe. “I contain multitudes,” he writes, affirming that his self is one with many other entities. He explores the concept of the divine by explaining that he is a part of the divine and the divine a part of him. But this does not make him reject science, and in fact, he celebrates it, suggesting that both the material and the spiritual parts of life are one.

Whitman experiences a profound, joyous freedom about his self-fulfillment. “I exist as I am, that is enough,” he firmly states. He exudes ecstasy as he celebrates the fact that he is content whether anyone else knows it or not. Overall his emphasis on interconnectivity and the beauty of the universe and of the self are all characteristics of mystic poetry.