Whitman was born and raised up in Long Island where farm work was common. As seen, the author widely uses a vivid description in a bid to explain Whitman's life. He is said to have taken to modern life of the city. The town is seen and explicitly described as a place for production and business although the inputs are not found there. Whitman is described as capable of coping with the life in the city having been there since his childhood days. The author makes use of this device to explain to the reader how modernized Whitman is. It creates an image of a young American in our minds who undergoes transition right from his childhood days.

Flashback is equally used to recall the Long Island as a ground for hunting wolves and deers who used to frequent there. The island was a hideout for pirates and expensive cargo was hidden there. With the revisit of vivid description, the island is said to have many hills towards its northern side protruding at several instances. Just below the slopes is Whitman's home where he does tilling. The island is also described as having a large area in bad shape where nothing can grow. Flashback is used by the author to recall the island with nostalgia. This shows that there were both bad and good things on the Long Island. Huntington is well described on the island as having been bought from the Indians. These and many devices have been used by the author.