A Noiseless Patient Spider

by Walt Whitman

A noiseless, patient spider, 

I mark’d, where, on a little promontory, it stood, isolated; 

Mark’d how, to explore the vacant, vast surrounding, 

It launch’d forth filament, filament, filament, out of itself; 

Ever unreeling them—ever tirelessly speeding them.

And you, O my Soul, where you stand, 

Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space, 

Ceaselessly musing, venturing, throwing,—seeking the spheres, to connect them; 

Till the bridge you will need, be form’d—till the ductile anchor hold; 

Till the gossamer thread you fling, catch somewhere, O my Soul.

Overall the poem is talking about the spider in his loneliness. He's sitting on top of a pond, trying to stay above the water. He takes time to think about where to go next and how to still stay afloat. I think the whole poem in general is speaking about the spider and his thoughts in the peace and quiet, by himself. 
My favorite lines are when the author says, "Surrounded, surrounded, in measureless oceans of space". Although it is not said, you can infer that the pond probably isn't that big - to a human at least. But to the spider the pond is huge and endless. It also painted the image in my head of how alone he is. I also liked the part when he said, "Seeking the spheres, to connect them". When I first read this line in my head I pictured the spider sitting on a lily pad, and looking out to all the other lily pads in the distance; trying to find the best path by connecting them. I'm not sure if my thoughts were correct but thats just the first image that popped into my head when i read it.