Thorton Wilder's experiences studying archaeology in Rome affected his writing, but in ways that one would not at first expect. After graduating from Yale University, Thorton Wilder traveled to Europe to study archaeology in Rome, Italy. It was not the archaeology itself that had a major influence on his writings, but the extreme separation from his family. He had spent many years of his life away from his family, starting at a young age, being sent to places like boarding school. But before studying archaeology in Rome, Italy, he had never been across the ocean from his loved ones. This lead to many themes in his future writings to be influenced by the feelings of loneliness and the experience of being out of place.
This excerpt might suggest that the world is a place to be observed in contemplation. As regards the words "rising and gliding", it might be said that Whitman used them to portray how the speaker is feeling, maybe he is happy to leave.
