The central voice of the collection identifies himself as Walt Whitman. He is an expansive, visionary observer who fluidly moves across the American continent. He projects his consciousness into the bodies and minds of men, women, enslaved people, workers, and historical figures. He views himself as a divine, immortal entity deeply connected to all of humanity and the natural world.

An idealized figure who holds the power to unite humanity and explain the mysteries of life. He receives welcomes from everyone from the president to field laborers. He speaks a universal language and breaks down social barriers. People of all backgrounds see themselves in him.

An intellectually disabled man residing in an asylum. The speaker describes him using the medical terminology of the era. He serves as an example of temporary physical imperfections that obscure a perfect soul.

A gentle woman remembered fondly by the speaker. She provides stability and warm memories for her son. In one of the speaker's visions, she holds a lasting memory of an Indigenous woman who once visited their homestead.

A strong, manly figure in the speaker's childhood home who is also prone to anger. He provides a grounding, complex parental presence in the boy's early environment.

A six-foot-tall patriarch with multiple generations of descendants. He sails his own boat, hunts, and fishes with his family. The speaker admires his vigorous energy and physical perfection, noting that the farmer draws affection and respect from everyone who meets him.

A man fleeing enslavement who is arrested in Massachusetts under a federal fugitive law. His heavily guarded procession prompts the speaker's bitter condemnation of the government and local authorities.

A generic Bostonian citizen watching a parade of federal troops. He acts as a stand-in for the complacent public that accepts the enforcement of unjust laws without protest.

The deceased British monarch whom the speaker sarcastically proposes digging up. The speaker argues that parading the former tyrant's skeletal remains through the streets would accurately match the oppressive state of modern law enforcement.

The Revolutionary War general watches his men die in battle with great distress. He later embraces his surviving officers once the war ends.

A fugitive seeking freedom who requires assistance. The speaker shelters him, cares for his injuries, and provides him with safety before the man continues his journey.

A beautiful traveler who stops at the speaker's childhood home. She stays until the afternoon and leaves a profound, lasting impression on the mother, though she never returns.

A young boy who asks the speaker to define the nature of grass. His question causes the speaker to launch into a profound meditation on the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

A woman who stays hidden on the shore while watching twenty-eight young men bathe in the sea. She admires one man in particular and imaginatively joins the group in the water.

An inquisitive individual who approaches the speaker seeking advice on how to best understand his brother. The speaker responds by describing the unifying power of the ideal poet.

A frontiersman who marries a young woman in an outdoor ceremony. His wedding unites different cultures in the vast expanse of the continent.

The bride in an outdoor marriage ceremony witnessed by the speaker. She forms part of the vast, diverse tableau of American life that the speaker catalogs and celebrates.

An elderly woman sitting peacefully outdoors. Dressed in linen made by her grandchildren, she provides an image of serene fulfillment and the visible beauty of an unblemished soul.