WALT WHITMAN 4-1972

1819-1892

COPYRIGHT

1855, 1856, 1860, 1867
1871, 1876, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1888, 1891

BY WALT WHITMAN

COPYRIGHT

1897

BY RICHARD MAURICE BUCKE

THOMAS B. HARNED AND HORACE L. TRAUBEL

LITERARY EXECUTORS OF WALT WHITMAN

ENTERED AT STATIONERS HALL

Printed in the United States of America

COME, SAID MY SOUL,
SUCH VERSES FOR MY BODY LET US WRITE, (FOR WE ARE ONE,)
THAT SHOULD I AFTER DEATH INVISIBLY RETURN,
OR, LONG, LONG HENCE, IN OTHER SPHERES,
THERE TO SOME GROUP OF MATES THE CHANTS RESUMING,
(TALLYING EARTH'S SOIL, TREES, WINDS, TUMULTUOUS WAVES,)
EVER WITH PLEAS'D SMILE I MAY KEEP ON,
EVER AND EVER YET THE VERSES OWNING- AS, FIRST, I HERE AND NOW,
SIGNING FOR SOUL AND BODY, SET TO THEM MY NAME,

AUTHOR'S NOTE FROM 1891–2 EDITION.

As there are now several editions of L. of G., different texts and dates, I wish to say that I prefer and recommend this present one, complete, for future printing, if there should be any; a copy and fac-simile, indeed, of the text of these 438 pages. The subsequent adjusting interval which is so important to form'd and launch'd work, books especially, has pass'd; and waiting till fully after that, I have given (pages 423-438) my concluding words.

W. W.

These concluding words appear on pp. 433-446 of the present edition.