Toward the Gulf

"Toward the Gulf" by Edgar Lee Masters is a collection of poems from the early 1900s that considers what it means to be an American. The poems use detailed language to investigate our connection to nature and to each other. It thinks about important people and moments from the past while honoring what it means to be an American, mixing feelings of longing with comments about society. It starts by painting a beautiful picture of rivers and lands, showing the journey and movement toward independence. Masters describes the trek from high northern lands through different landscapes to the Gulf of Mexico, using water as a metaphor for life and the fights people face. The verses bring to mind the brave explorers and first settlers, thinking about the past and the never-ending journey towards freedom and democracy in American life. The author's talent for blending nature into the verses demonstrates the intricate relationship between people and the environment, making it a central theme of the collection.