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Leaves of grass. (1861-1861)

Whitman, Walt (1819-1892)

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CHANTS DEMOCRATIC AND NATIVE AMERICAN.

Leaves of Grass.

Salut au Monde!

A WORD OUT OF THE SEA.

EUROPE, The 72d and 73d Years of These States.

Enfans d' Adam.

POEM OF THE ROAD.

TO THE SAYERS OF WORDS.

A BOSTON BALLAD, The 78th Year of These States.

CROSSING BROOKLYN FERRY.

LONGINGS FOR HOME.

MESSENGER LEAVES.

FRANCE, The 18th Year of These States.

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[He is wisest who has the most caution]

[Any thing is as good as established, when that is established that will produce it and continue it]

[What General has a good army in himself, has a good army]

[Have you learned lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for you?]

[Despairing cries float ceaselessly toward me, day and night]

[I understand your anguish, but I cannot help you]

[A thousand perfect men and women appear]

[A mask—a perpetual natural disguiser of herself]

[One sweeps by, attended by an immense train]

[One sweeps by, old, with black eyes, and profuse white hair]

[Three old men slowly pass, followed by three others, and they by three others]

[Women sit, or move to and fro—some old, some young]

[What weeping face is that looking from the window?]

[I will take an egg out of the robin's nest in the orchard]

[Behavior—fresh, native, copious, each one for himself or herself]

[Not the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship into port, though beaten back, and many times baffled]

[I thought I was not alone, walking here by the shore]

SLEEP-CHASINGS.

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372

[31. What ship, puzzled at sea, cons for the true reckoning?]

1.

What ship, puzzled at sea, cons for the true reckoning?
Or, coming in, to avoid the bars, and follow the channel, a perfect pilot needs?
Here, sailor! Here, ship! take aboard the most perfect pilot,
Whom, in a little boat, putting off, and rowing, I, hailing you, offer.

2.

What place is besieged, and vainly tries to raise the siege?
Lo! I send to that place a commander, swift, brave, immortal,
And with him horse and foot—and parks of artillery,
And artillerymen, the deadliest that ever fired gun.