Final answer:
The characteristic of Walt Whitman's poetry illustrated by the phrase "It may be you" is Repetition, which serves as a stylistic device in his work, creating rhythm and connecting themes without relying on regular rhyme or meter.
Step-by-step explanation:
The characteristic of Walt Whitman's poetry illustrated by the phrase "It may be you" is Repetition. Whitman's work, known for its departure from the conventional structures of poetry, such as regular rhyme and meter, often utilizes repetition as a stylistic device. While Whitman was celebrated for wordplay and use of common images, his poetry does not typically adhere to a steady dependable beat or a sound pattern like traditional poems.
Instead, what stands out in Whitman's poetry is the frequent recurrence of phrases and themes, which is a characteristic indeed, but one not defined by meter or rhyme. Whitman establishes a different form of rhythm and familiarity through his repeated use of phrases, such as "It may be you," to engage the reader and convey thematic elements. Repetition serves as a connective tissue in his poetry, linking thoughts and reflections on self, society, and the human condition.