Read the poem.

Question

Song of the Open Road

by Walt Whitman

Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune—I myself am good-fortune;
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Strong and content, I travel the open road. . . .

From this hour, freedom!
From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,
Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute,
Listening to others, and considering well what they say,
Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating,
Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.

I inhale great draughts of space;
The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are mine.

I am larger, better than I thought;
I did not know I held so much goodness.

All seems beautiful to me;
I can repeat over to men and women, You have done such good to me, I would do the same to you.

I will recruit for myself and you as I go;
I will scatter myself among men and women as I go;
I will toss the new gladness and roughness among them;
Whoever denies me, it shall not trouble me;
Whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless me.

Question
Read this line from "Song of the Open Road."

From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,

What does the phrase "loos'd of limits and imaginary lines" mean in the poem?

Responses

tied to things that weigh individuals down
tied to things that weigh individuals down

holding on to the things that the world values
holding on to the things that the world values

freed from restrictions and nonexistent boundaries
freed from restrictions and nonexistent boundaries

letting go of the need for freedom
letting go of the need for freedom

Answer 1

The phrase "loos'd of limits and imaginary lines" in the poem means freed from restrictions and nonexistent boundaries. This line expresses the speaker's desire to break free from societal constraints and limitations, both real and perceived, embracing personal freedom and the ability to choose their own path in life.