walt whitman on nature

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Walt Whitman’s “Salut au Monde”

(Poem of the Day)By contributors | Dec. 22, 2013 |

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(By Walt Whitman)

“Salut au Mone! "#reetin$ to the Worl% &rom Leaves of Grass, 1'*

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+ -/ my han, Walt Whitman

Such $liin$ oners such si$hts an souns

Such oin unene lin4s, each hoo4 to the ne5t

/ach anserin$ all6each sharin$ the earth ith all.

What iens ithin you, Walt Whitman7

What a8es an soils e5uin$7

What climes7 hat 9ersons an lans are here7

Who are the in&ants7 some 9layin$, some slumberin$7

Who are the $irls7 ho are the marrie omen7Who are the $rou9s o& ol men $oin$ sloly ith their arms about each

others nec4s7

What ri8ers are these7 hat &orests an &ruits are these7

What are the mountains call that rise so hi$h in the mists7

What myrias o& ellin$s are they, :ll ith ellers7

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Within me latitue iens, lon$itue len$thens;

-sia, -&rica, /uro9e, are to the east6-merica is 9ro8ie &or in the est;Banin$ the bul$e o& the earth ins the hot e<uator,

=uriously north an south turn the a5is>ens;

Within me is the lon$est ay6the sun heels in slantin$ rin$s6it oes not

set &or months;

Stretch in ue time ithin me the mini$ht sun ust rises abo8e the

hori?on, an sin4s a$ain;

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Within me ?ones, seas, cataracts, 9lants, 8olcanoes, $rou9s,

Malaysia, @olynesia, an the $reat West Anian islans.

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What o you hear, Walt Whitman7

A hear the =o9tic re&rain, toar sunon, 9ensi8ely &allin$ onthe breast o& the blac4 8enerable 8ast mother, the ile;

A hear the or4man sin$in$, an the &armers i&e sin$in$;

A hear in the istance the souns o& chilren, an o& animals early in the

ay;

A hear <uic4 riCe>crac4s &rom the riCemen o& /ast ennessee an entuc4y,

huntin$ on hills;

A hear emulous shouts o& -ustralians, 9ursuin$ the il horse;A hear the S9anish ance, ith castanets, in the chestnut shae, to the

rebec4 an $uitar;

A hear continual echoes &rom the hames;

A hear :erce rench liberty son$s;

A hear o& the Atalian boat>sculler the musical recitati8e o& ol 9oems;

A hear the Eir$inia 9lantation>chorus o& ne$roes, o& a har8est ni$ht, in the

$lare o& 9ine>4nots;

A hear the stron$ baritone o& the lon$>shore>men o& Mannahatta;

A hear the ste8eores unlain$ the car$oes, an sin$in$;

A hear the screams o& the ater>&ol o& solitary north>est la4es;

A hear the rustlin$ 9atterin$ o& locusts, as they stri4e the $rain an $rass

ith the shoers o& their terrible clous; A hear the =o9tic re&rain, toar

sunon, 9ensi8ely &allin$ on the breast o& the blac4 8enerable 8ast

mother, the ile; A hear the bu$les o& ra&t>teners on the streams o& anaa;

A hear the chir9 o& the Me5ican muleteer, an the bells o& the mule;

A hear the -rab mue??in, callin$ &rom the to9 o& the mos<ue;

A hear the =hristian 9riests at the altars o& their churches6A hear the

res9onsi8e bass an so9rano;

A hear the ail o& utter es9air o& the hite>hair Arish $ran9arents, henthey learn the eath o& their $ranson;

A hear the cry o& the =ossac4, an the sailors 8oice, 9uttin$ to sea at

+4ots4;

A hear the hee?e o& the sla8e>coFe, as the sla8es march on6as the hus4y

$an$s 9ass on by tos an threes, &asten to$ether ith rist>chains an

an4le>chains;



A hear the entreaties o& omen tie u9 &or 9unishment6A hear the sibilant

his4 o& thon$s throu$h the air;

A hear the Gebre reain$ his recors an 9salms;

A hear the rhythmic myths o& the #ree4s, an the stron$ le$ens o& the

Homans;

A hear the tale o& the i8ine li&e an blooy eath o& the beauti&ul #o6the

=hrist;

A hear the Ginoo teachin$ his &a8orite 9u9il the lo8es, ars, aa$es,

transmitte sa&ely to this ay, &rom 9oets ho rote three thousan years

a$o.

I

What o you see, Walt Whitman7

Who are they you salute, an that one a&ter another salute you7

A see a $reat roun oner rollin$ throu$h the air;

A see iminute &arms, hamlets, ruins, $ra8e>yars, ails, &actories, 9alaces,

ho8els, huts o& barbarians, tents o& nomas, u9on the sur&ace;

A see the shae 9art on one sie, here the slee9ers are slee9in$6an the

sun>lit 9art on the other sie,

A see the curious silent chan$e o& the li$ht an shae,

A see istant lans, as real an near to the inhabitants o& them, as my lan

is to me.

A see 9lenteous aters;

A see mountain 9ea4s6A see the sierras o& -nes an -lle$hanies, here

they ran$e;

A see 9lainly the Gimalayas, =hian Shahs, -ltays, #hauts;

A see the $iant 9innacles o& /lbru?, a?be4, Ba?arusi,

A see the Hoc4y Mountains, an the @ea4 o& Wins;

A see the Styrian -l9s, an the arnac -l9s;

A see the @yrenees, Bal4s, =ar9athians6an to the north the Do&ra:els,

an oJ at sea Mount Gecla;

A see Eesu8ius an /tna6A see the -nahuacs;A see the Mountains o& the Moon, an the Sno Mountains, an the He

Mountains o& Maa$ascar;

A see the Eermont hills, an the lon$ strin$ o& =orilleras;

A see the 8ast eserts o& Western -merica;

A see the Kybian, -rabian, an -siatic eserts;

A see hu$e rea&ul -rctic an -ntarctic iceber$s;



A see the su9erior oceans an the in&erior ones6the -tlantic an @aci:c, the

sea o& Me5ico, the Bra?ilian sea, an the sea o& @eru,

he La9an aters, those o& Ginostan, the =hina Sea, an the #ul& o&

#uinea,

he s9rea o& the Baltic, =as9ian, Bothnia, the British shores, an the Bay

o& Biscay,

he clear>sunn Meiterranean, an &rom one to another o& its islans,

he inlan &resh>taste seas o& orth -merica,

he White Sea, an the sea aroun #reenlan.

A behol the mariners o& the orl;

Some are in storms6some in the ni$ht, ith the atch on the loo4>out;

Some ri&tin$ hel9lessly6some ith conta$ious iseases.

A behol the sail an steamshi9s o& the orl, some in clusters in 9ort, some

on their 8oya$es;

Some ouble the =a9e o& Storms6some =a9e Eere,6others =a9e

#uara&ui, Bon, or Baaore;

+thers Donra Gea6others 9ass the Straits o& Suna6others =a9e

Ko9at4a6others Behrin$s Straits;

+thers =a9e Gorn6others sail the #ul& o& Me5ico, or alon$ =uba or Gayti6

others Gusons Bay or Bans Bay;

+thers 9ass the Straits o& Do8er6others enter the Wash6others the irth o&

Solay6others roun =a9e =lear6others the Kans /n;

+thers tra8erse the Nuyer Nee, or the Schel;+thers a to the e5its an entrances at Sany Goo4;

+thers to the comers an $oers at #ibraltar, or the Daranelles;

+thers sternly 9ush their ay throu$h the northern inter>9ac4s;

+thers escen or ascen the +bi or the Kena;

+thers the i$er or the =on$o6others the Anus, the Buram9ooter an

=amboia;

+thers ait at the har8es o& Manhattan, steam u9, reay to start;

Wait, si&t an sarthy, in the 9orts o& -ustralia;

Wait at Ki8er9ool, #las$o, Dublin, Marseilles, Kisbon, a9les, Gambur$,

Bremen, Boreau5, the Ga$ue, =o9enha$en;Wait at Eal9araiso, Hio Laneiro, @anama;

Wait at their moorin$s at Boston, @hilael9hia, Baltimore, =harleston, e

+rleans, #al8eston, San rancisco.



A see the trac4s o& the rail>roas o& the earth;

A see them elin$ State to State, city to city, throu$h orth -merica;

A see them in #reat Britain, A see them in /uro9e;

A see them in -sia an in -&rica.

A see the electric tele$ra9hs o& the earth;

A see the :laments o& the nes o& the ars, eaths, losses, $ains, 9assions,

o& my race.

A see the lon$ ri8er>stri9es o& the earth; 1

A see here the Mississi99i Cos6A see here the =olumbia Cos;

A see the #reat Hi8er an the alls o& ia$ara;

A see the -ma?on an the @ara$uay;

A see the &our $reat ri8ers o& =hina, the -mour, the Oello Hi8er, the Oian$>

tse, an the @earl;

A see here the Seine Cos, an here the Danube, the Koire, the Hhone,

an the #uaal<ui8er Co;

A see the inin$s o& the Eol$a, the Dnie9er, the +er;

A see the uscan $oin$ on the -rno, an the Eenetian alon$ the @o;

A see the #ree4 seaman sailin$ out o& /$ina bay.

A see the site o& the ol em9ire o& -ssyria, an that o& @ersia, an that o&

Ania;

A see the &allin$ o& the #an$es o8er the hi$h rim o& Sau4ara.

A see the 9lace o& the iea o& the Deity incarnate by a8atars in human

&orms;

A see the s9ots o& the successions o& 9riests on the earth6oracles,

sacri:cers, brahmins, sabians, lamas, mon4s, mu&tis, e5horters;

A see here ruis al4e the $ro8es o& Mona6A see the mistletoe an

8er8ain;

A see the tem9les o& the eaths o& the boies o& #os6A see the ol

si$ni:ers.

A see =hrist once more eatin$ the brea o& his last su99er, in the mist o&

youths an ol 9ersons;

A see here the stron$ i8ine youn$ man, the Gercules, toil &aith&ully an

lon$, an then ie;

A see the 9lace o& the innocent rich li&e an ha9less &ate o& the beauti&ul



nocturnal son, the &ull>limb Bacchus;

A see ne9h, bloomin$, rest in blue, ith the cron o& &eathers on his hea;

A see Germes, unsus9ecte, yin$, ell>belo8e, sayin$ to the 9eo9le, Do

not ee9 &or me,

his is not my true country, A ha8e li8e banish &rom my true country6A

no $o bac4 there,

A return to the celestial s9here, here e8ery one $oes in his turn.

P

A see the battle>:els o& the earth6$rass $ros u9on them, an blossoms

an corn;

A see the trac4s o& ancient an moern e59eitions.

A see the nameless masonries, 8enerable messa$es o& the un4non e8ents,

heroes, recors o& the earth.

A see the 9laces o& the sa$as;

A see 9ine>trees an :r>trees torn by northern blasts;

A see $ranite boulers an cliJs6A see $reen meaos an la4es;

A see the burial>cairns o& Scanina8ian arriors;

A see them raise hi$h ith stones, by the mar$e o& restless oceans, that

the ea mens s9irits, hen they earie o& their <uiet $ra8es, mi$ht rise

u9 throu$h the mouns, an $a?e on the tossin$ billos, an be re&resh

by storms, immensity, liberty, action.

A see the ste99es o& -sia;

A see the tumuli o& Mon$olia6A see the tents o& almuc4s an Bas4irs;

A see the nomaic tribes, ith hers o& o5en an cos;

A see the table>lans notch ith ra8ines6A see the un$les an eserts;

A see the camel, the il stee, the bustar, the &at>tail shee9, the

antelo9e, an the burroin$ ol&.

A see the hi$h>lans o& -byssinia;

A see Coc4s o& $oats &eein$, an see the :$>tree, tamarin, ate,

-n see :els o& teJ>heat, an see the 9laces o& 8erure an $ol.

A see the Bra?ilian 8a<uero;

A see the Boli8ian ascenin$ Mount Sorata;

A see the Wacho crossin$ the 9lains6A see the incom9arable rier o& horses

ith his lasso on his arm;

A see o8er the 9am9as the 9ursuit o& il cattle &or their hies.



'

A see little an lar$e sea>ots, some inhabite, some uninhabite;

A see to boats ith nets, lyin$ oJ the shore o& @aumano4, <uite still;

A see ten :shermen aitin$6they isco8er no a thic4 school o&

mossbon4ers6they ro9 the oin seine>ens in the ater,

he boats se9arate6they i8er$e an ro oJ, each on its rounin$ course

to the beach, enclosin$ the mossbon4ers;

he net is ran in by a inlass by those ho sto9 ashore,

Some o& the :shermen loun$e in their boats6others stan ne$li$ently

an4le>ee9 in the ater, 9ois on stron$ le$s;

he boats are 9artly ran u96the ater sla9s a$ainst them;

+n the san, in hea9s an inros, ell out &rom the ater, lie the $reen>

bac4 s9otte mossbon4ers.

Q

A see the es9onent re man in the est, lin$erin$ about the ban4s o&

Moin$o, an about Ka4e @e9in;

Ge has hear the <uail an behel the honey>bee, an saly 9re9are to

e9art.

A see the re$ions o& sno an ice;

A see the shar9>eye Samoiee an the inn;

A see the seal>see4er in his boat, 9oisin$ his lance;

A see the Siberian on his sli$ht>built sle$e, ran by o$s;

A see the 9or9oise>hunters6A see the hale>cres o& the South @aci:c an

the orth -tlantic;

A see the cliJs, $laciers, torrents, 8alleys, o& Sit?erlan6A mar4 the lon$

inters, an the isolation.

A see the cities o& the earth, an ma4e mysel& at ranom a 9art o& them;

A am a real @arisian;

A am a habitan o& Eienna, St. @etersbur$, Berlin, =onstantino9le;

A am o& -elaie, Siney, Melbourne;A am o& Konon, Manchester, Bristol, /inbur$h, Kimeric4;

A am o& Mari, =ai?, Barcelona, +9orto, Kyons, Brussels, Berne, ran4&ort,

Stutt$art, urin, lorence;

A belon$ in Mosco, =raco, Warsa6or northar in =hristiania or

Stoc4holm6or in Siberian Ar4uts46or in some street in Acelan;

A escen u9on all those cities, an rise &rom them a$ain.



10

A see 8a9ors e5halin$ &rom une59lore countries;

A see the sa8a$e ty9es, the bo an arro, the 9oison s9lint, the &etish,

an the obi.

A see -&rican an -siatic tons;

A see -l$iers, ri9oli, Derne, Mo$aore, imbuctoo, Monro8ia;

A see the sarms o& @e4in, =anton, Benares, Delhi, =alcutta, Oeo;

A see the ruman in his hut, an the Dahoman an -shanteeman in their

huts;

A see the ur4 smo4in$ o9ium in -le99o;

A see the 9ictures<ue cros at the &airs o& hi8a, an those o& Gerat;

A see eheran6A see Muscat an Meina, an the inter8enin$ sans6A see

the cara8ans toilin$ onar;

A see /$y9t an the /$y9tians6A see the 9yramis an obelis4s;

A loo4 on chisel histories, son$s, 9hiloso9hies, cut in slabs o& san>stone,

or on $ranite>bloc4s;

A see at Mem9his mummy>9its, containin$ mummies, embalm, sathe in

linen cloth, lyin$ there many centuries;

A loo4 on the &alln heban, the lar$e>ball eyes, the sie>roo9in$ nec4, the

hans &ole across the breast.

A see the menials o& the earth, laborin$;

A see the 9risoners in the 9risons;A see the e&ecti8e human boies o& the earth;

A see the blin, the ea& an umb, iiots, hunchbac4s, lunatics;

A see the 9irates, thie8es, betrayers, murerers, sla8e>ma4ers o& the earth;

A see the hel9less in&ants, an the hel9less ol men an omen.

A see male an &emale e8eryhere;

A see the serene brotherhoo o& 9hiloso9hs;

A see the constructi8eness o& my race;

A see the results o& the 9erse8erance an inustry o& my race;

A see ran4s, colors, barbarisms, ci8ili?ations6A $o amon$ them6A mi5iniscriminately,

-n A salute all the inhabitants o& the earth.

11



Oou, hoe8er you are

Oou au$hter or son o& /n$lan

Oou o& the mi$hty Sla8ic tribes an em9ires you Huss in Hussia

Oou im>escene, blac4, i8ine>soul -&rican, lar$e, :ne>heae, nobly>

&orm, su9erbly estin, on e<ual terms ith me

Oou ore$ian See Dane Acelaner you @russian

Oou S9aniar o& S9ain you @ortu$uese

Oou renchoman an renchman o& rance

Oou Bel$e you liberty>lo8er o& the etherlans

Oou stury -ustrian you Kombar Gun Bohemian &armer o& Styria

Oou nei$hbor o& the Danube

Oou or4in$>man o& the Hhine, the /lbe, or the Weser you or4in$>oman

too

Oou Sarinian you Ba8arian Sabian Sa5on Wallachian Bul$arian

Oou citi?en o& @ra$ue Homan ea9olitan #ree4 Oou lithe mataor in the arena at Se8ille

Oou mountaineer li8in$ lalessly on the aurus or =aucasus

Oou Bo4h horse>her, atchin$ your mares an stallions &eein$

Oou beauti&ul>boie @ersian, at &ull s9ee in the sale, shootin$ arros to

the mar4

Oou =hinaman an =hinaoman o& =hina you artar o& artary

Oou omen o& the earth suborinate at your tas4s

Oou Le ourneyin$ in your ol a$e throu$h e8ery ris4, to stan once on

Syrian $roun 210

Oou other Les aitin$ in all lans &or your Messiah Oou thou$ht&ul -rmenian, 9onerin$ by some stream o& the /u9hrates you

9eerin$ ami the ruins o& ine8eh you ascenin$ Mount -rarat

Oou &oot>orn 9il$rim elcomin$ the &ar>aay s9ar4le o& the minarets o&

Mecca

Oou shei4s alon$ the stretch &rom Sue? to Bab>el>maneb, rulin$ your

&amilies an tribes

Oou oli8e>$roer tenin$ your &ruit on :els o& a?areth, Damascus, or Ka4e

iberias

Oou hibet traer on the ie inlan, or bar$ainin$ in the sho9s o& Kassa

Oou La9anese man or oman you li8er in Maa$ascar, =eylon, Sumatra,

Borneo

-ll you continentals o& -sia, -&rica, /uro9e, -ustralia, iniJerent o& 9lace

-ll you on the numberless islans o& the archi9ela$oes o& the sea

-n you o& centuries hence, hen you listen to me

-n you, each an e8eryhere, hom A s9eci&y not, but inclue ust the



same

Gealth to you #oo ill to you all6&rom me an -merica sent.

/ach o& us ine8itable;

/ach o& us limitless6each o& us ith his or her ri$ht u9on the earth;

/ach o& us allo the eternal 9ur9orts o& the earth;

/ach o& us here as i8inely as any is here.

12

Oou Gottentot ith clic4in$ 9alate Oou oolly>hair hores

Oou on 9ersons, ro99in$ seat>ro9s or bloo>ro9s

Oou human &orms ith the &athomless e8er>im9ressi8e countenances o&

brutes

A are not re&use you6the sco9e o& the orl, an o& time an s9ace, are

u9on me.

Oou 9oor 4oboo hom the meanest o& the rest loo4 on u9on, &or all your

$limmerin$ lan$ua$e an s9irituality

Oou lo e59irin$ abori$ines o& the hills o& Rtah, +re$on, =ali&ornia

Oou ar& amtschat4an, #reenlaner, Ka99

Oou -ustral ne$ro, na4e, re, sooty, ith 9rotrusi8e li9, $ro8ellin$, see4in$

your &oo

Oou =aJre, Berber, Souanese

Oou ha$$ar, uncouth, untutor, Beoee

Oou 9la$ue>sarms in Maras, an4in, aubul, =airo

Oou bather bathin$ in the #an$es

Oou beni$hte roamer o& -ma?onia you @ata$onian you eee>man

Oou 9eon o& Me5ico you sla8e o& =arolina, e5as, ennessee

A o not 9re&er others so 8ery much be&ore you either;

A o not say one or a$ainst you, aay bac4 there, here you stan;

(Oou ill come &orar in ue time to my sie.)

My s9irit has 9ass in com9assion an etermination aroun the hole

earth;A ha8e loo4 &or e<uals an lo8ers, an &oun them reay &or me in all

lans;

A thin4 some i8ine ra99ort has e<uali?e me ith them.

13



+ 8a9ors A thin4 A ha8e risen ith you, an mo8e aay to istant

continents, an &allen on there, &or reasons;

A thin4 A ha8e blon ith you, + ins;

+ aters, A ha8e :n$er e8ery shore ith you.

A ha8e run throu$h hat any ri8er or strait o& the $lobe has run throu$h;

A ha8e ta4en my stan on the bases o& 9eninsulas, an on the hi$h

embee roc4s, to cry thence.

Salut au mone

What cities the li$ht or armth 9enetrates, A 9enetrate those cities mysel&;

-ll islans to hich birs in$ their ay, A in$ my ay mysel&.

oar all,

A raise hi$h the 9er9enicular han6A ma4e the si$nal,

o remain a&ter me in si$ht &ore8er,

or all the haunts an homes o& men.

Walt Whitman

10. Starting from Paumanok

1

STARTING from fish-shape Paumanok, where I was born,

Well-beo!!en, an" rais#" b$ a perfe%! mo!her&

Af!er roamin man$ lan"s'lo(er of populous pa(emen!s&

)weller in *annaha!!a, m$ %i!$'or on sou!hern sa(annas&

+r a sol"ier %amp#", or %arr$in m$ knapsa%k an" un'or a miner in alifornia& 5

+r ru"e in m$ home in )ako!a#s woo"s, m$ "ie! mea!, m$ "rink from !he sprin&

+r wi!h"rawn !o muse an" me"i!a!e in some "eep re%ess,

ar from !he %lank of %row"s, in!er(als passin, rap! an" happ$&

Aware of !he fresh free i(er, !he flowin *issouri'aware of mih!$ Niaara&

Aware of !he buffalo her"s, rain !he plains'!he hirsu!e an" s!ron-breas!e" bull& 10

+f ear!h, ro%ks, if!h-mon!h flowers, e/perien%e"'s!ars, rain, snow, m$ amae&

a(in s!u"ie" !he mo%kin-bir"#s !ones, an" !he moun!ainhawk#s,

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An" hear" a! "usk !he unri(al#" one, !he hermi! !hrush from !he swamp-%e"ars,

Soli!ar$, sinin in !he Wes!, I s!rike up for a New Worl".

2i%!or$, union, fai!h, i"en!i!$, !ime,

15

The in"issoluble %ompa%!s, ri%hes, m$s!er$,

3!ernal proress, !he kosmos, an" !he mo"ern repor!s.

This, !hen, is life&

ere is wha! has %ome !o !he surfa%e af!er so man$ !hroes an" %on(ulsions.

ow %urious4 how real4 20

5n"erfoo! !he "i(ine soil'o(erhea" !he sun.

See, re(ol(in, !he lobe&

The an%es!or-%on!inen!s, awa$, roup#" !oe!her&

The presen! an" fu!ure %on!inen!s, nor!h an" sou!h, wi!h !he is!hmus be!ween.

See, (as!, !ra%kless spa%es& 25

As in a "ream, !he$ %hane, !he$ swif!l$ fill&

oun!less masses "ebou%h upon !hem&

The$ are now %o(er#" wi!h !he foremos! people, ar!s, ins!i!u!ions, known.

See, pro6e%!e", !hrouh !ime,

or me, an au"ien%e in!erminable. 30

Wi!h firm an" reular s!ep !he$ wen"'!he$ ne(er s!op,

Su%%essions of men, Ameri%anos, a hun"re" millions&

+ne enera!ion pla$in i!s par!, an" passin on&

Ano!her enera!ion pla$in i!s par!, an" passin on in i!s !urn,

Wi!h fa%es !urn#" si"ewa$s or ba%kwar" !owar"s me, !o lis!en, 35

Wi!h e$es re!rospe%!i(e !owar"s me,

7

Ameri%anos4 %on8uerors4 mar%hes humani!arian&

oremos!4 %en!ur$ mar%hes4 9iber!a"4 masses4

or $ou a proramme of %han!s.

han!s of !he prairies& 40

han!s of !he lon-runnin *ississippi, an" "own !o !he *e/i%an sea&

han!s of +hio, In"iana, Illinois, Iowa, Wis%onsin an" *inneso!a&

han!s oin for!h from !he %en!re, from :ansas, an" !hen%e, e8ui-"is!an!,

Shoo!in in pulses of fire, %easeless, !o (i(if$ all.

; 45













In !he <ear =0 of The S!a!es,*$ !onue, e(er$ a!om of m$ bloo", form#" from !his soil, !his air,

>orn here of paren!s born here, from paren!s !he same, an" !heir paren!s !he same,

I, now !hir!$-si/ $ears ol", in perfe%! heal!h, bein,

opin !o %ease no! !ill "ea!h.

ree"s an" s%hools in abe$an%e, 50

?Re!irin ba%k a while, suffi%e" a! wha! !he$ are, bu! ne(er foro!!en,@

I harbor, for oo" or ba"'I permi! !o speak, a! e(er$ haar",

Na!ure now wi!hou! %he%k, wi!h oriinal ener$.

Take m$ lea(es, Ameri%a4 !ake !hem, Sou!h, an" !ake !hem, Nor!h4

*ake wel%ome for !hem e(er$where, for !he$ are $our own offsprin& 55

Surroun" !hem, 3as! an" Wes!4 for !he$ woul" surroun" $ou&

An" $ou pre%e"en!s4 %onne%! lo(inl$ wi!h !hem, for !he$ %onne%! lo(inl$ wi!h $ou.

I %onn#" ol" !imes&

I sa! s!u"$in a! !he fee! of !he rea! mas!ersB

Now, if eliible, + !ha! !he rea! mas!ers mih! re!urn an" s!u"$ me4 60

In !he name of These S!a!es, shall I s%orn !he an!i8ueC

Wh$ These are !he %hil"ren of !he an!i8ue, !o 6us!if$ i!.

D

)ea" poe!s, philosophs, pries!s,

*ar!$rs, ar!is!s, in(en!ors, o(ernmen!s lon sin%e,

9anuae-shapers, on o!her shores, 65

Na!ions on%e powerful, now re"u%e", wi!h"rawn, or "esola!e,

I "are no! pro%ee" !ill I respe%!full$ %re"i! wha! $ou ha(e lef!, waf!e" hi!herB

I ha(e peruse" i! 'own i! is a"mirable, ?mo(in awhile amon i!&@

Think no!hin %an e(er be rea!er'no!hin %an e(er "eser(e more !han i! "eser(es&

Rear"in i! all in!en!l$ a lon while '!hen "ismissin i!, 70

I s!an" in m$ pla%e, wi!h m$ own "a$, here.

ere lan"s female an" male&

ere !he heir-ship an" heiress-ship of !he worl"'here !he flame of ma!erials&

ere Spiri!uali!$, !he !ransla!ress, !he openl$-a(ow#",

The e(er-!en"in, !he finale of (isible forms& 75

The sa!isfier, af!er "ue lon-wai!in, now a"(an%in,

<es, here %omes m$ mis!ress, !he Soul.

E

















The S+59B

ore(er an" fore(er'loner !han soil is brown an" soli"'loner !han wa!er ebbs an"flows.

I will make !he poems of ma!erials, for I !hink !he$ are !o be !he mos! spiri!ual poems& 80

An" I will make !he poems of m$ bo"$ an" of mor!ali!$,

or I !hink I shall !hen suppl$ m$self wi!h !he poems of m$ Soul, an" of immor!ali!$.

I will make a son for These S!a!es, !ha! no-one S!a!e ma$ un"er an$ %ir%ums!an%es besub6e%!e" !o ano!her S!a!e&

An" I will make a son !ha! !here shall be %omi!$ b$ "a$ an" b$ nih! be!ween all The

S!a!es, an" be!ween an$ !wo of !hemB

An" I will make a son for !he ears of !he Presi"en!, full of weapons wi!h mena%in

poin!s,

85

An" behin" !he weapons %oun!less "issa!isfie" fa%esB

'An" a son make I, of !he +ne form#" ou! of all&

The fan#" an" li!!erin +ne whose hea" is o(er all&

Resolu!e, warlike +ne, in%lu"in an" o(er all&

?owe(er hih !he hea" of an$ else, !ha! hea" is o(er all.@ 90

I will a%knowle"e %on!emporar$ lan"s&

I will !rail !he whole eoraph$ of !he lobe, an" salu!e %our!eousl$ e(er$ %i!$ larean" small&

An" emplo$men!s4 I will pu! in m$ poems, !ha! wi!h $ou is heroism, upon lan" an"

sea&

An" I will repor! all heroism from an Ameri%an poin! of (iew.

I will sin !he son of %ompanionship& 95

I will show wha! alone mus! finall$ %ompa%! These&

I belie(e These are !o foun" !heir own i"eal of manl$ lo(e, in"i%a!in i! in me&

I will !herefore le! flame from me !he burnin fires !ha! were !hrea!enin !o %onsume

me&

I will lif! wha! has !oo lon kep! "own !hose smoul"erin fires&

I will i(e !hem %omple!e aban"onmen!& 100

I will wri!e !he e(anel-poem of %omra"es, an" of lo(e&

?or who bu! I shoul" un"ers!an" lo(e, wi!h all i!s sorrow an" 6o$C

An" who bu! I shoul" be !he poe! of %omra"esC@

=

I am !he %re"ulous man of 8uali!ies, aes, ra%es&

I a"(an%e from !he people in !heir own spiri!& 105

ere is wha! sins unres!ri%!e" fai!h.

+mnes4 +mnes4 le! o!hers inore wha! !he$ ma$&

I make !he poem of e(il also'I %ommemora!e !ha! par! also&

I am m$self 6us! as mu%h e(il as oo", an" m$ na!ion is'An" I sa$ !here is in fa%! no
















e(il&

?+r if !here is, I sa$ i! is 6us! as impor!an! !o $ou, !o !he lan", or !o me, as an$!hinelse.@

110

I !oo, followin man$, an" follow#" b$ man$, inauura!e a Reliion'I "es%en" in!o

!hearena&

?I! ma$ be I am "es!in#" !o u!!er !he lou"es! %ries !here, !he winner#s pealin shou!s&

Who knowsC !he$ ma$ rise from me $e!, an" soar abo(e e(er$ !hin.@

3a%h is no! for i!s own sake&

I sa$ !he whole ear!h, an" all !he s!ars in !he sk$, are for Reliion#s sake. 115

I sa$ no man has e(er $e! been half "e(ou! enouh&

None has e(er $e! a"ore" or worship#" half enouh&

None has beun !o !hink how "i(ine he himself is, an" how %er!ain !he fu!ure is.

I sa$ !ha! !he real an" permanen! ran"eur of These S!a!es mus! be !heir Reliion&

+!herwise !here is no real an" permanen! ran"eurB 120

?Nor %hara%!er, nor life wor!h$ !he name, wi!hou! Reliion&

Nor lan", nor man or woman, wi!hou! Reliion.@

F

Wha! are $ou "oin, $oun manC

Are $ou so earnes!'so i(en up !o li!era!ure, s%ien%e, ar!, amoursC

These os!ensible reali!ies, poli!i%s, poin!sC 125

<our ambi!ion or business, wha!e(er i! ma$ beC

I! is well'Aains! su%h I sa$ no! a wor"'I am !heir poe! also&

>u! behol"4 su%h swif!l$ subsi"e'burn! up for Reliion#s sake&

or no! all ma!!er is fuel !o hea!, impalpable flame, !he essen!ial life of !he ear!h,

An$ more !han su%h are !o Reliion. 130

10

Wha! "o $ou seek, so pensi(e an" silen!C

Wha! "o $ou nee", amera"oC

)ear son4 "o $ou !hink i! is lo(eC

9is!en, "ear son'lis!en, Ameri%a, "auh!er or son4

I! is a painful !hin !o lo(e a man or woman !o e/%ess'an" $e! i! sa!isfies'i! is rea!& 135

>u! !here is some!hin else (er$ rea!'i! makes !he whole %oin%i"e&

I!, manifi%en!, be$on" ma!erials, wi!h %on!inuous han"s, sweeps an" pro(i"es for all.

11

:now $ou4 solel$ !o "rop in !he ear!h !he erms of a rea!er Reliion,
























The followin %han!s, ea%h for i!s kin", I sin.

*$ %omra"e4 140

or $ou, !o share wi!h me, !wo rea!nesses'an" a !hir" one, risin in%lusi(e an" more

resplen"en!,

The rea!ness of 9o(e an" )emo%ra%$'an" !he rea!ness of Reliion.

*elane mine own4 !he unseen an" !he seen&

*$s!erious o%ean where !he s!reams emp!$&

Prophe!i% spiri! of ma!erials shif!in an" fli%kerin aroun" me& 145

9i(in beins, i"en!i!ies, now "oub!less near us, in !he air, !ha! we know no! of &

on!a%! "ail$ an" hourl$ !ha! will no! release me&

These sele%!in'!hese, in hin!s, "eman"e" of me.

No! he, wi!h a "ail$ kiss, onwar" from %hil"hoo" kissin me,

as win"e" an" !wis!e" aroun" me !ha! whi%h hol"s me !o him, 150

An$ more !han I am hel" !o !he hea(ens, !o !he spiri!ual worl",

An" !o !he i"en!i!ies of !he Go"s, m$ lo(ers, fai!hful an" !rue,

Af!er wha! !he$ ha(e "one !o me, sues!in !hemes.

+ su%h !hemes4 38uali!ies4

+ amaemen! of !hins4 + "i(ine a(erae4 155

+ warblins un"er !he sun'usher#", as now, or a! noon, or se!!in4

+ s!rain, musi%al, flowin !hrouh aes'now rea%hin hi!her4

I !ake !o $our re%kless an" %omposi!e %hor"s'I a"" !o !hem, an" %heerfull$ pass !hemforwar".

1

As I ha(e walk#" in Alabama m$ mornin walk,

I ha(e seen where !he she-bir", !he mo%kin-bir", sa! on her nes! in !he briers, ha!%hin

her broo".

160

I ha(e seen !he he-bir" also&

I ha(e pause" !o hear him, near a! han", infla!in his !hroa!, an" 6o$full$ sinin.

An" while I pause", i! %ame !o me !ha! wha! he reall$ san for was no! !here onl$,

Nor for his ma!e, nor himself onl$, nor all sen! ba%k b$ !he e%hoes&

>u! sub!le, %lan"es!ine, awa$ be$on", 165

A %hare !ransmi!!e", an" if! o%%ul!, for !hose bein born.

17

)emo%ra%$4

Near a! han" !o $ou a !hroa! is now infla!in i!self an" 6o$full$ sinin.

*a femme4


















or !he broo" be$on" us an" of us, 170

or !hose who belon here, an" !hose !o %ome,

I, e/ul!an!, !o be rea"$ for !hem, will now shake ou! %arols s!roner an" hauh!ier !han

ha(e e(er $e! been hear" upon ear!h.

I will make !he sons of passion, !o i(e !hem !heir wa$,

An" $our sons, ou!law#" offen"ers'for I s%an $ou wi!h kin"re" e$es, an" %arr$ $ou

wi!h me !he same as an$.

I will make !he !rue poem of ri%hes, 175

To earn for !he bo"$ an" !he min" wha!e(er a"heres, an" oes forwar", an" is no! "rop!

b$ "ea!h.

I will effuse eo!ism, an" show i! un"erl$in all'an" I will be !he bar" of personali!$&

An" I will show of male an" female !ha! ei!her is bu! !he e8ual of !he o!her&

An" se/ual orans an" a%!s4 "o $ou %on%en!ra!e in me'for I am "e!ermin#" !o !ell $ouwi!h %ouraeous %lear (oi%e, !o pro(e $ou illus!rious&

An" I will show !ha! !here is no imperfe%!ion in !he presen!'an" %an be none in !he

fu!ure&

180

An" I will show !ha! wha!e(er happens !o an$bo"$, i! ma$ be !urn#" !o beau!iful resul!s

'an" I will show !ha! no!hin %an happen more beau!iful !han "ea!h&

An" I will !hrea" a !hrea" !hrouh m$ poems !ha! !ime an" e(en!s are %ompa%!,

An" !ha! all !he !hins of !he uni(erse are perfe%! mira%les, ea%h as profoun" as an$.

I will no! make poems wi!h referen%e !o par!s&

>u! I will make lea(es, poems, poeme!s, sons, sa$s, !houh!s wi!h referen%e !o

ensembleB

185

An" I will no! sin wi!h referen%e !o a "a$, bu! wi!h referen%e !o all "a$s&

An" I will no! make a poem, nor !he leas! par! of a poem, bu! has referen%e !o !he Soul&

?>e%ause, ha(in look#" a! !he ob6e%!s of !he uni(erse, I fin" !here is no one, nor an$

par!i%le of one, bu! has referen%e !o !he Soul.@

1;

Was somebo"$ askin !o see !he SoulC

See4 $our own shape an" %oun!enan%e'persons, subs!an%es, beas!s, !he !rees, !he

runnin ri(ers, !he ro%ks an" san"s.

190

All hol" spiri!ual 6o$s, an" af!erwar"s loosen !hemB

ow %an !he real bo"$ e(er "ie, an" be burie"C

+f $our real bo"$, an" an$ man#s or woman#s real bo"$,

I!em for i!em, i! will elu"e !he han"s of !he %orpse-%leaners, an" pass !o fi!!in spheres,

arr$in wha! has a%%rue" !o i! from !he momen! of bir!h !o !he momen! of "ea!h. 195

No! !he !$pes se! up b$ !he prin!er re!urn !heir impression, !he meanin, !he main

%on%ern,
















An$ more !han a man#s subs!an%e an" life, or a woman#s subs!an%e an" life, re!urn in

!he bo"$ an" !he Soul,

In"ifferen!l$ before "ea!h an" af!er "ea!h.

>ehol"4 !he bo"$ in%lu"es an" is !he meanin, !he main %on%ern'an" in%lu"es an" is

!he Soul&

Whoe(er $ou are4 how superb an" how "i(ine is $our bo"$, or an$ par! of i!. 200

1

Whoe(er $ou are4 !o $ou en"less announ%emen!s.

)auh!er of !he lan"s, "i" $ou wai! for $our poe!C

)i" $ou wai! for one wi!h a flowin mou!h an" in"i%a!i(e han"C

Towar" !he male of The S!a!es, an" !owar" !he female of The S!a!es,

9i(e wor"s'wor"s !o !he lan"s. 205

+ !he lan"s4 in!erlink#", foo"-$iel"in lan"s4

9an" of %oal an" iron4 9an" of ol"4 9an"s of %o!!on, suar, ri%e4

9an" of whea!, beef, pork4 9an" of wool an" hemp4 9an" of !he apple an" rape4

9an" of !he pas!oral plains, !he rass-fiel"s of !he worl"4 9an" of !hose swee!-air#"in!erminable pla!eaus4

9an" of !he her", !he ar"en, !he heal!h$ house of a"obie4 210

9an"s where !he nor!hwes! olumbia win"s, an" where !he sou!hwes! olora"o win"s4

9an" of !he eas!ern hesapeake4 9an" of !he )elaware4

9an" of +n!ario, 3rie, uron, *i%hian4

9an" of !he +l" Thir!een4 *assa%huse!!s lan"4 9an" of 2ermon! an" onne%!i%u!4

9an" of !he o%ean shores4 9an" of sierras an" peaks4 215

9an" of boa!men an" sailors4 ishermen#s lan"4

Ine/!ri%able lan"s4 !he %lu!%h#" !oe!her4 !he passiona!e ones4

The si"e b$ si"e4 !he el"er an" $ouner bro!hers4 !he bon$-limb#"4

The rea! women#s lan"4 !he feminine4 !he e/perien%e" sis!ers an" !he ine/perien%e"

sis!ers4

ar brea!h#" lan"4 Ar%!i% bra%e"4 *e/i%an bree#"4 !he "i(erse4 !he %ompa%!4 220

The Penns$l(anian4 !he 2irinian4 !he "ouble arolinian4

+ all an" ea%h well-lo(e" b$ me4 m$ in!repi" na!ions4 + I a! an$ ra!e in%lu"e $ou all

wi!h perfe%! lo(e4

I %anno! be "is%hare" from $ou4 no! from one, an$ sooner !han ano!her4

+ )ea!h4 + for all !ha!, I am $e! of $ou, unseen, !his hour, wi!h irrepressible lo(e,

Walkin New 3nlan", a frien", a !ra(eler, 225

Splashin m$ bare fee! in !he e"e of !he summer ripples, on Paumanok#s san"s,

rossin !he prairies'"wellin aain in hi%ao'"wellin in e(er$ !own,

+bser(in shows, bir!hs, impro(emen!s, s!ru%!ures, ar!s,

9is!enin !o !he ora!ors an" !he ora!resses in publi% halls,

+f an" !hrouh The S!a!es, as "urin life'ea%h man an" woman m$ neihbor, 230

The 9ouisianian, !he Georian, as near !o me, an" I as near !o him an" her,























The *ississippian an" Arkansian $e! wi!h me'an" I $e! wi!h an$ of !hem&

<e! upon !he plains wes! of !he spinal ri(er'$e! in m$ house of a"obie,

<e! re!urnin eas!war"'$e! in !he Sea-Si"e S!a!e, or in *ar$lan",

<e! :ana"ian, %heeril$ bra(in !he win!er'!he snow an" i%e wel%ome !o me, 235

<e! a !rue son ei!her of *aine, or of !he Grani!e S!a!e, or of !he Narraanse!! >a$ S!a!e,

or of !he 3mpire S!a!e&

<e! sailin !o o!her shores !o anne/ !he same'$e! wel%omin e(er$ new bro!her&

ereb$ appl$in !hese lea(es !o !he new ones, from !he hour !he$ uni!e wi!h !he ol"

ones&

omin amon !he new ones m$self, !o be !heir %ompanion an" e8ual'%omin

personall$ !o $ou now&

3n6oinin $ou !o a%!s, %hara%!ers, spe%!a%les, wi!h me. 240

1D

Wi!h me, wi!h firm hol"in'$e! has!e, has!e on.

or $our life, a"here !o me4

+f all !he men of !he ear!h, I onl$ %an unloose $ou an" !ouhen $ou&

I ma$ ha(e !o be persua"e" man$ !imes before I %onsen! !o i(e m$self reall$ !o $ou'

bu! wha! of !ha!C

*us! no! Na!ure be persua"e" man$ !imesC 245

No "ain!$ "ol%e affe!!uoso I&

>ear"e", sun-burn!, ra$-ne%k#", forbi""in, I ha(e arri(e",

To be wres!le" wi!h as I pass, for !he soli" pries of !he uni(erse&

or su%h I affor" whoe(er %an perse(ere !o win !hem.

1E

+n m$ wa$ a momen! I pause&

250

ere for $ou4 an" here for Ameri%a4

S!ill !he Presen! I raise alof!'S!ill !he u!ure of The S!a!es I harbine, la" an"

sublime&

An" for !he Pas!, I pronoun%e wha! !he air hol"s of !he re" aboriines.

The re" aboriines4

9ea(in na!ural brea!hs, soun"s of rain an" win"s, %alls as of bir"s an" animals in !he

woo"s, s$llable" !o us for names&

255

+konee, :oosa, +!!awa, *ononahela, Sauk, Na!%he, ha!!ahoo%hee, :a8ue!a,+rono%o,

Wabash, *iami, Sainaw, hippewa, +shkosh, Walla-Walla&

9ea(in su%h !o The S!a!es, !he$ mel!, !he$ "epar!, %harin !he wa!er an" !he lan"

wi!h names.

1=









+ e/pan"in an" swif!4 + hen%efor!h,

3lemen!s, bree"s, a"6us!men!s, !urbulen!, 8ui%k, an" au"a%ious& 260

A worl" primal aain'2is!as of lor$, in%essan! an" bran%hin&

A new ra%e, "omina!in pre(ious ones, an" ran"er far'wi!h new %on!es!s,

New poli!i%s, new li!era!ures an" reliions, new in(en!ions an" ar!s.

These4 m$ (oi%e announ%in'I will sleep no more, bu! arise&

<ou o%eans !ha! ha(e been %alm wi!hin me4 how I feel $ou, fa!homless, s!irrin,

preparin unpre%e"en!e" wa(es an" s!orms.

265

1F

See4 s!eamers s!eamin !hrouh m$ poems4

See, in m$ poems immiran!s %on!inuall$ %omin an" lan"in&

See, in arriere, !he wiwam, !he !rail, !he hun!er#s hu!, !he fla!boa!, !he maie-leaf, !he

%laim, !he ru"e fen%e, an" !he ba%kwoo"s (illae&

See, on !he one si"e !he Wes!ern Sea, an" on !he o!her !he 3as!ern Sea, how !he$

a"(an%e an" re!rea! upon m$ poems, as upon !heir own shores.

See, pas!ures an" fores!s in m$ poems'See, animals, wil" an" !ame'See, be$on" !he

:anas, %oun!less her"s of buffalo, fee"in on shor! %url$ rass&

270

See, in m$ poems, %i!ies, soli", (as!, inlan", wi!h pa(e" s!ree!s, wi!h iron an" s!onee"ifi%es, %easeless (ehi%les, an" %ommer%e&

See, !he man$-%$lin"er#" s!eam prin!in-press'See, !he ele%!ri% !eleraph, s!re!%hin

a%ross !he on!inen!, from !he Wes!ern Sea !o *anha!!an&

See, !hrouh A!lan!i%a#s "ep!hs, pulses Ameri%an, 3urope rea%hin'pulses of 3urope,"ul$ re!urn#"&

See, !he s!ron an" 8ui%k lo%omo!i(e, as i! "epar!s, pan!in, blowin !he s!eam-whis!le&

See, plouhmen, plouhin farms'See, miners, "iin mines'See, !he numberlessfa%!ories&

275

See, me%hani%s, bus$ a! !heir ben%hes, wi!h !ools'See from amon !hem, superior

6u"es, philosophs, Presi"en!s, emere, "res! in workin "resses&

See, lounin !hrouh !he shops an" fiel"s of The S!a!es, me, well-belo(#", %lose-hel"

b$ "a$ an" nih!&

ear !he lou" e%hoes of m$ sons !here4 Rea" !he hin!s %ome a! las!.

0

+ amera"o %lose4

+ $ou an" me a! las!'an" us !wo onl$. 280

+ a wor" !o %lear one#s pa!h ahea" en"lessl$4

+ some!hin e/!a!i% an" un"emons!rable4 + musi% wil"4

+ now I !riumph'an" $ou shall also&

+ han" in han"'+ wholesome pleasure'+ one more "esirer an" lo(er4

+ !o has!e, firm hol"in'!o has!e, has!e on wi!h me.











walt whitman on nature

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