University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
Leaves of grass.

  
[title page]
  
CONTENTS.
  
INSCRIPTION.

collapse section 
[book]
collapse section 
STARTING FROM PAUMANOK.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
 14. 
14
 15. 
15
 16. 
16
 17. 
17
 18. 
18
 19. 
19
 20. 
20
collapse section 
WALT WHITMAN.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
 14. 
14
 15. 
15
 16. 
16
 17. 
17
 18. 
18
 19. 
19
 20. 
20
 21. 
21
 22. 
22
 23. 
23
 24. 
24
 25. 
25
 26. 
26
 27. 
27
 28. 
28
 29. 
29
 30. 
30
 31. 
31
 32. 
32
 33. 
33
 34. 
34
 35. 
35
 36. 
36
 37. 
37
 38. 
38
 39. 
39
 40. 
40
 41. 
41
 42. 
42
 43. 
43
 44. 
44
 45. 
45
 46. 
46
 47. 
47
 48. 
48
 49. 
49
 50. 
50
 51. 
51
 52. 
52
collapse section 
CHILDREN OF ADAM.
  
FROM PENT-UP ACHING RIVERS.
collapse section 
[poem]
 1. 
I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC.
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
  
A WOMAN WAITS FOR ME.
  
SPONTANEOUS ME
  
ONE HOUR TO MADNESS AND JOY
  
WE TWO — HOW LONG WE WERE FOOL'D.
  
NATIVE MOMENTS.
  
ONCE I PASS'D THROUGH A POPULOUS CITY.
  
FACING WEST FROM CALIFORNIA'S SHORES.
  
AGES AND AGES, RETURNING AT INTERVALS.
  
O HYMEN! O HYMENEE.
  
I AM HE THAT ACHES WITH LOVE.
  
AS ADAM, EARLY IN THE MORNING.
  
EXCELSIOR.
collapse section 
CALAMUS.
  
IN PATHS UNTRODDEN.
  
SCENTED HERBAGE OF MY BREAST.
  
Whoever you are, Holding me now in Hand.
  
THESE I, SINGING IN SPRING.
collapse section 
A SONG.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
  
Not Heaving from my Ribb'd Breast only.
  
Of the Terrible Doubt of Appearances.
  
RECORDERS AGES HENCE.
  
When I Heard at the Close of the Day.
  
Are you the New Person Drawn Toward me?
  
Roots and Leaves Themselves Alone.
  
Not Heat Flames up and Consumes.
  
TRICKLE, DROPS.
  
Of Him I Love Day and Night.
  
CITY OF ORGIES.
  
BEHOLD THIS SWARTHY FACE.
  
I saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing.
  
That Music Always Round Me.
  
TO A STRANGER.
  
This Moment, Yearning and Thoughtful.
  
I Hear it was Charged Against Me.
  
The Prairie-Grass Dividing.
  
We Two Boys Together Clinging.
  
O Living Always — Always Dying!
  
When I Peruse the Conquer'd Fame.
  
A GLIMPSE.
  
A PROMISE TO CALIFORNIA.
  
HERE, SAILOR!
  
HERE THE FRAILEST LEAVES OF ME.
  
WHAT THINK YOU I TAKE MY PEN IN HAND?
  
No LABOR-SAVING MACHINE.
  
I DREAMED IN A DREAM.
  
To THE EAST AND TO THE WEST.
  
EARTH! MY LIKENESS!
  
A LEAF FOR HAND IN HAND.
  
FAST ANCHOR'D, ETERNAL, O LOVE.
  
SOMETIMES WITH ONE I LOVE.
  
THAT SHADOW, MY LIKENESS.
  
AMONG THE MULTITUDE.
  
TO A WESTERN BOY.
  
O YOU WHOM I OFTEN AND SILENTLY COME.
  
FULL OF LIFE, NOW.
collapse section 
SALUT AU MONDE!
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
  
WHAT PLACE IS BESIEGED?
collapse section 
LEAVES OF GRASS.
  
1.
  
2.
  
3.
  
4.
  
BEGINNERS.
  
TESTS.
  
PERFECTIONS.
collapse section 
SONG OF THE BROAD-AXE.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
  
WITH ANTECEDENTS.
  
SAVANTISM.
  
CROSSING BROOKLYN FERRY.
  
TO A FOIL'D REVOLTER OR REVOLTRESS.
  
TO GET BETIMES IN BOSTON TOWN.
  
TO A COMMON PROSTITUTE.
  
TO A PUPIL.
  
TO RICH GIVERS.
collapse section 
A WORD OUT OF THE SEA.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
collapse section 
A LEAF OF FACES.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
  
STRONGER LESSONS.
  
EUROPE, The 72d and 73d Years of These States.
  
THOUGHT.
  
THE RUNNER.
collapse section 
TO THE SAYERS OF WORDS.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
  
LONGINGS FOR HOME.
  
TO A PRESIDENT.
  
WALT WHITMAN'S CAUTION.
  
TO OTHER LANDS.
collapse section 
SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD.
  
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
 14. 
14
 15. 
15
 16. 
16
 17. 
17
  
TO THE STATES, To Identify the 16th, 17th, or 18th Presidentiad.
  
TO A CERTAIN CANTATRICE.
collapse section 
TO WORKINGMEN.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
  
DEBRIS.
collapse section 
LEAVES OF GRASS.
  
1.
  
2.
  
3.
  
AMERICAN FEUILLAGE.
  
MANNAHATTA.
  
To You.
  
FRANCE, The 18th Year of These States.
  
A HAND-MIRROR.
collapse section 
THOUGHTS.
  
1.
  
2.
  
3.
  
4.
  
5.
  
6.
  
7.
  
TO HIM THAT WAS CRUCIFIED.
  
TO OLD AGE.
  
TO ONE SHORTLY TO DIE.
  
TO YOU.
  
UNNAMED LANDS.
  
KOSMOS.
  
WHEN I READ THE BOOK.
collapse section 
SAYS.
 1. 
1.
 2. 
2.
 3. 
3.
 4. 
4.
collapse section 
DESPAIRING CRIES.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
  
PICTURE.
collapse section 
POEMS OF JOY.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
 14. 
14
 15. 
15
  
RESPONDEZ!
  
THE CITY DEAD-HOUSE.
  
LEAFLETS.
collapse section 
LEAVES OF GRASS.
  
1.
  
2.
  
3.
  
4.
  
5.
  
VISOR'D.
  
NOT THE PILOT.
  
AS IF A PHANTOM CARESS'D ME.
  
PICTURE.
  
GREAT ARE THE MYTHS.
  
NOW LIST TO MY MORNING'S ROMANZA.
collapse section 
BURIAL.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
  
THIS COMPOST!
  
I HEAR AMERICA SINGING.
  
Manhattan's Streets I Saunter'd, Pondering.
  
I WAS LOOKING A LONG WHILE.
  
THE INDICATIONS.
collapse section 
LEAVES OF GRASS.
  
1.
  
2.
  
3.
  
4.
  
ME IMPERTURBE.
collapse section 
SLEEP-CHASINGS.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
collapse section 
ELEMENTAL DRIFTS.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
  
MIRACLES.
  
YOU FELONS ON TRIAL IN COURTS.
  
MEDIUMS.
  
NOW LIFT ME CLOSE.
collapse section 
WALT WHITMAN'S DRUM -TAPS. New-York. 1865.
  
[page]
  
CONTENTS.
  
DRUM-TAPS.
  
SHUT NOT YOUR DOORS TO ME PROUD LIBRARIES.
  
CAVALRY CROSSING A FORD.
collapse section 
SONG OF THE BANNER AT DAY-BREAK.
  
POET.
  
BANNER AND PENNANT.
  
CHILD.
  
FATHER.
  
POET.
  
CHILD.
  
FATHER.
  
BANNER AND PENNANT.
  
POET.
  
BANNER AND PENNANT.
  
CHILD.
  
FATHER.
  
POET.
  
BANNER AND PENNANT.
  
POET. (Finale.)
  
BY THE BIVOUAC'S FITFUL FLAME.">
  
1861.
  
FROM PAUMANOK STARTING I FLY LIKE A BIRD.
  
BEGINNING MY STUDIES.
collapse section 
THE CENTENARIAN'S STORY.
  
VOLUNTEER OF 1861, (At Washington Park, Brooklyn, assisting the Centenarian.)
  
THE CENTENARIAN.
  
TERMINUS.
collapse section 
PIONEERS! O PIONEERS!
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
 14. 
14
 15. 
15
 16. 
16
 17. 
17
 18. 
18
 19. 
19
 20. 
20
 21. 
21
 22. 
22
 23. 
23
 24. 
24
 25. 
25
 26. 
26
  
QUICKSAND YEARS THAT WHIRL ME I KNOW NOT WHITHER.
  
THE DRESSER.
  
WHEN I HEARD THE LEARN'D ASTRONOMER.
collapse section 
RISE O DAYS FROM YOUR FATHOMLESS DEEPS.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
  
A CHILD'S AMAZE.
collapse section 
BEAT! BEAT! DRUMS!
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
  
COME UP FROM THE FIELDS FATHER.
  
CITY OF SHIPS.
  
MOTHER AND BABE.
  
VIGIL STRANGE I KEPT ON THE FIELD ONE NIGHT.
  
BATHED IN WAR'S PERFUME.
  
A MARCH IN THE RANKS HARD-PREST, AND THE ROAD UNKNOWN.
  
LONG, TOO LONG, O LAND.
  
A SIGHT IN CAMP IN THE DAY-BREAK GREY AND DIM.
  
A FARM PICTURE.
collapse section 
GIVE ME THE SPLENDID SILENT SUN.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
  
OVER THE CARNAGE ROSE PROPHETIC A VOICE.
  
DID YOU ASK DULCET RHYMES FROM ME?
  
YEAR OF METEORS. (1859-60.)
  
THE TORCH.
  
YEARS OF THE UNPERFORM'D.
  
YEAR THAT TREMBLED AND REEL'D BENEATH ME.
  
THE VETERAN'S VISION.
  
O TAN-FACED PRAIRIE-BOY.
  
CAMPS OF GREEN.
  
AS TOILSOME I WANDER'D VIRGINIA'S WOODS.
  
HYMN OF DEAD SOLDIERS.
  
THE SHIP.
  
A BROADWAY PAGEANT. (RECEPTION JAPANESE EMBASSY, JUNE 16, 1860.)
  
FLAG OF STARS, THICK-SPRINKLED BUNTING.
  
OLD IRELAND.
  
LOOK DOWN FAIR MOON.
collapse section 
OUT OF THE ROLLING OCEAN, THE CROWD.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
  
WORLD, TAKE GOOD NOTICE.
  
I SAW OLD GENERAL AT BAY.
  
OTHERS MAY PRAISE WHAT THEY LIKE.
  
SOLID, IRONICAL, ROLLING ORB.
  
HUSH'D BE THE CAMPS TO-DAY. A. L. BURIED APRIL 19, 1865.
  
WEAVE IN, WEAVE IN, MY HARDY LIFE.
  
TURN O LIBERTAD.
  
BIVOUAC ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE.
  
PENSIVE ON HER DEAD GAZING, I HEARD THE MOTHER OF ALL.
  
NOT YOUTH PERTAINS TO ME.
collapse section 
SEQUEL TO DRUM-TAPS. (SINCE THE PRECEDING CAME FROM THE PRESS.) WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOOR-YARD BLOOM'D. AND OTHER PIECES.WASHINGTON. 1865-6.
  
CONTENTS.
collapse section 
WHEN LILACS LAST IN THE DOOR-YARD BLOOM'D.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
 14. 
14
 15. 
15
 16. 
16
 17. 
17
 18. 
18
 19. 
19
 20. 
20
 21. 
21
  
RACE OF VETERANS.
collapse section 
O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
  
SPIRIT WHOSE WORK IS DONE.
collapse section 
CHANTING THE SQUARE DEIFIC.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
  
I HEARD YOU, SOLEMN-SWEET PIPES OF THE ORGAN.
  
NOT MY ENEMIES EVER INVADE ME.
collapse section 
O ME! O LIFE!
  
[section]
  
Answer.
  
AH POVERTIES, WINCINGS, AND SULKY RETREATS.
  
AS I LAY WITH MY HEAD IN YOUR LAP, CAMERADO.
  
THIS DAY, O SOUL.
collapse section 
IN CLOUDS DESCENDING, IN MIDNIGHT SLEEP.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
  
AN ARMY ON THE MARCH.
collapse section 
DIRGE FOR TWO VETERANS.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
  
HOW SOLEMN, AS ONE BY ONE.
  
LO! VICTRESS ON THE PEAKS!
  
RECONCILIATION.
  
TO THE LEAVEN'D SOIL THEY TROD.
collapse section 
LEAVES OF GRASS. SONGS BEFORE PARTING.
  
CONTENTS.
collapse section 
AS I SAT ALONE BY BLUE ONTARIO'S SHORE.
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5
 6. 
6
 7. 
7
 8. 
8
 9. 
9
 10. 
10
 11. 
11
 12. 
12
 13. 
13
 14. 
14
 15. 
15
 16. 
16
 17. 
17
 18. 
18
 19. 
19
 20. 
20
 21. 
21
 22. 
22
collapse section 
LEAVES OF GRASS.
  
1
  
2.
  
3.
  
4.
  
5
collapse section 
THOUGHTS.
  
1.
  
2.
  
AS NEARING DEPARTURE.
  
AS I WALK, SOLITARY, UNATTENDED.
  
SONG AT SUNSET.
  
TO A HISTORIAN.
  
ASSURANCES.
collapse section 
SO LONG!
 1. 
1
 2. 
2
 3. 
3
 4. 
4
 5. 
5

collapse section Collapse All | Expand All expand section
previous section Leaves of grass.
next section

O ME! O LIFE!

O ME! O life! . . . of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless — of cities fill'd with      the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more fool-     ish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light — of the objects mean — of      the struggle ever renew'd;
Of the poor results of all — of the plodding and sordid crowds      I see around me;
Of the empty and useless years of the rest — with the rest me      intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring — What good amid      these, O me, O life?

Answer.

That you are here — that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a      verse.
previous section Leaves of grass.
next section