It is when reading lines like these, even on our computers and mobile devices ever so many generations from him, that we are reminded how vibrantly Whitman’s spirit continues to live on in his writing and just how important forming an intimate relationship with his audience was to his poetic enterprise. In many ways, Whitman’s ability to bond with his reader is what makes “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” one of his most enduring and often anthologized works: it is a connection that opens a window into the mind of the poet; a portal that transports us back to his life and times; and an invitation to stop for a moment and look again at the world around us from a different perspective, one that makes visible the interconnectedness of all humans and our environment across time and space.

This online critical edition looks to build on the importance of these connections and present users with a chance to view “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” from new vistas.  It is an opportunity to interact, to play, and discover what can be learned about Whitman and his work through interactive, media-rich approaches. In the end, whether you need a guide for your first voyage or are returning and seek the companionship of an old Comrade, this site hopes to provide something for all whitmaniacs on their passage across the river.

The following are offered in this critical edition:

•Close Reading: Click on links to criticism, commentary, and multimedia resources as you read "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry"

•Edition Evolution: Track the changes Whitman made to "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" over his lifetime

•Edition Comparisons: View versions of "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" side-by-side

•Resources: Reading list and online sources utilized in the creation of The Crossing Brooklyn Ferry Online Critical Edition