Abstract

The article focuses on the analysis of the poem Autoportrét v červnu by Stanislav Kostka Neumann from the collection Kniha lesů, vod a strání. It analyzes the theme of the transformation of a city man into a natural being who sensually merges with the surrounding landscape. The poem is then compared to the opening verses of Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, highlighting thematic and motivic similarities. The fundamental difference, however, is seen in the form: in contrast to Whitman’s free verse, Neumann uses a verse reminiscent of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, which corresponds with the central motif of Neumann’s poem – metamorphose.

Keywords Stanislav Kostka Neumann Kniha lesů vod a strání Listy trávy Leaves of Grass Walt Whitmann