In this section Whitman refers to many of the things he’s mentioned previously and basically says “keep doin ya thang.”

A poetic way of saying something important ties everyone together, a key theme in this piece.

Instead of taking part in their activities, he remained the observer, and would, later, reflect on their actions and consider what they meant, like someone who’d seen a play.

A reference to his previously mentioned friends.

He continues to wonder what could top the experience of his life. In this case, what Gods, which are generally considered superhuman, could be better than his friends. Now that’s one hell of a compliment.

He ask the readers if what he’s written has reached them (well he really declares it has in a somewhat roundabout way, another example of Whitman’s hubris), and if they’ve understood the message, which is that we are not alone; we are all in this together.

The body envelopes the soul to house it, and does so for the time it is meant to, whether that time is short or long.

Everything, big or small, has a purpose and can have a great effect. Just ask the lion about that mouse.

Double entendre here. Everyone comes to be as an emission. The first interpretation is a little graphic. That is, emission as in your dad’s cum (ew). The second, is an emission from something more, a collective of everyone, along the lines of a god, or whatever you believe in. Whitman was openminded.

Whitman wasn’t exactly humble. He was fairly confident he’d be considered great, as show here. But he makes the line interesting by saying that as great as the reader may think he is, he thinks just as highly of the reader.

He thought a lot on what he would say to future generations through his work. Walt’s a man of the future, not one of those “live for today chumps” like TI.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koVHN6eO4Xg