PAGE I AM he that aches with amorous love I dream'd in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the whole 93 29 412 109 391 425 If I should need to name, O Western World, your powerfulest scene and I have not so much emulated the birds that musically sing I heard that you ask'd for something to prove this puzzle the New World, I hear it was charged against me that I sought to destroy institutions I met a seer In a far-away northern county in the placid pastoral region In a little house keep I pictures suspended, it is not a fix'd house. I need no assurances, I am a man who is pre-occupied of his Own In paths untrodden In softness, languor, bloom, and growth In some unused lagoon, some nameless bay I saw old General at bay I see before me now a traveling army halting I see in you the estuary that enlarges and spreads itself grandly as it 218 I see the sleeping babe nestling the breast of its mother I sit and look out upon all the sorrows of the world, and upon all op. Is reform needed? is it through you I stand as on some mighty eagle's beak I was asking for something specific and perfect for my city Let the reformers descend from the stands where they are forever bawl- Let that which stood in front go behind Locations and times what is it in me that meets them all, whenever Long, too long America 390 299 332 276 218 244 250 16 252 213 MANHATTAN'S streets I saunter'd pondering Many things to absorb I teach to help you become eleve of mine. 289 My city's fit and noble name resumed. My spirit to yours dear brother Myself and mine gymnastic ever . Nay tell me not to-day the publish'd shame Аме Me imperturbe, standing at ease in Nature . More experiences and sights, stranger, than you'd think for. My science-friend, my noblest woman-friend NAY, do not dream, designer dark Nations ten thousand years before these States, and many times ten Not alone those camps of white, old comrades of the wars Not from successful love alone - when you come upon me - ah you are here now Not heat flames up and consumes Not heaving from my ribb'd breast only Nothing is ever really lost, or can be lost Not the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship into port, though Not to exclude or demarcate, or pick out evils from their formidable Now list to my morning's romanza, I tell the signs of the Answerer Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done. Of Equality- -as if it harm'd me, giving others the same chances and Of heroes, history, grand events, premises, myths, poems Of obedience, faith, adhesiveness - Of ownership- as if one fit to own things could not at pleasure enter Of persons arrived at high positions, ceremonies, wealth, scholarships, Of that blithe throat of thine from arctic bleak and blank O hymen! O hymenee! why do you tantalize me thus Old farmers, travelers, workmen (no matter how crippled or bent magnet-South! O glistening perfumed South! my South O me, man of slack faith so long O me! O life! of the questions of these recurring On a flat road runs the well-train'd runner Once I pass'd through a populous city imprinting my brain for future use One hour to madness and joy! O furious! O confine me not One thought ever at the fore On journeys through the States we start Only themselves understand themselves and the like of themselves On my Northwest coast in the midst of the night a fisherman's group On, on the same, ye jocund twain On the beach at night On the beach at night alone O sight of pity, shame and dole O take my hand Walt Whitman O tan-faced prairie boy Others may praise what they like O to make the most jubilant song Out of the rolling ocean the crowd came a drop gently to me O you whom I often and silently come where you are that I may be with PAGE 217 PASSING stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you Pensive on her dead gazing I heard the Mother of All Proudly the flood comes in, shouting, foaming, advancing Rise O days from your fathomless deeps, till you loftier, fiercer sweep steadily hastening towards immortality. Sauntering the pavement or riding the country by-road, lo, such faces Sea-beauty! stretch'd and basking Shot gold, maroon and violet, dazzling silver, emerald, fawn Shut not your doors to me proud libraries Silent and amazed even when a little boy Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging Singing my days 315 - Small the theme of my Chant, yet the greatest-namely, One's-Self- Somehow I cannot let it go yet, funeral though it is Sometimes with one I love I fill myself with rage for fear I effuse unre- Spirit that form'd this scene Spirit whose work is done-spirit of dreadful hours Spontaneous me, Nature Starting from fish-shape Paumanok where I was born - Steaming the northern rapids (an old St. Lawrence reminiscence Stranger, if you passing meet me and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me Suddenly out of its stale and drowsy lair, the lair of slaves That coursing on, whate'er men's speculations That shadow my likeness that goes to and fro seeking a livelihood, chat- That which eludes this verse and any verse. The appointed winners in a long-stretch'd game The business man the acquirer vast The commonplace I sing The devilish and the dark, the dying and diseas'd Thee for my recitative The last sunbeam The mystery of mysteries, the crude and hurried ceaseless flame, spon- Then last of all, caught from these shores, this hill 376 419 358 The prairie-grass dividing, its special odor breathing These carols sung to cheer my passage through the world I see The sobbing of the bells, the sudden death-news everywhere The touch of flame - the illuminating fire-the loftiest look at last The two old, simple problems ever intertwined 99 378 401 411 404 398 379 206 This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless This latent mine- these unlaunch'd voices-passionate powers This moment yearning and thoughtful sitting alone Thither as I look I see each result and glory retracing itself and nestling close, always obligated Thou Mother with thy Equal brood Thou orb aloft full-dazzling! thou hot October noon Thou reader throbbest life and pride and love the same as I, Through the ample open door of the peaceful country barn To be at all-what is better than that To conclude, I announce what comes after me To-day, from each and all, a breath of prayer —a pulse of thought To the East and to the West To thee old cause To the garden the world anew ascending To the leaven'd soil they trod calling I sing for the last 18 15 333 385 104 254 351 302 To the States or any one of them, or any city of the States, Resist much, To think of time of all that retrospection Two boats with nets lying off the sea-beach, quite still UNFOLDED out of the folds of the woman man comes unfolded, and is always to come unfolded Unseen buds, infinite, hidden well Upon this scene, this show. VIGIL strange I kept on the field one night. Vocalism, measure, concentration, determination, and the divine power WANDERING at morn. Warble me now for joy of lilac-time, (returning in reminiscence Welcome, Brazilian brother-thy ample place is ready We two, how long we were fool'd 238 What am I after all but a child, pleas'd with the sound of my own What are those of the known but to ascend and enter the Unknown What hurrying human tide, or day or night What place is besieged, and vainly tries to raise the siege 394 |