written by Walt WhitmanHOLD it up sternly! See this it sends back! (Who is it? Is it you?)
Outside fair costume--within ashes and filth,
No more a flashing eye--no more a sonorous voice or springy step;
Now some slave's eye, voice, hands, step,
A drunkard's breath, unwholesome eater's face, venerealee's flesh,
Lungs rotting away piecemeal, stomach sour and cankerous,
Joints rheumatic, bowels clogged with abomination,
Blood circulating dark and poisonous streams,
Words babble, hearing and touch callous,
No brain, no heart left--no magnetism of sex;10
Such, from one look in this looking-glass ere you go hence,
Such a result so soon--and from such a beginning!
Walt Whitman
written by Walt Whitman, published on Wed 01.27.2010 at 06:31
O STAR of France!
The brightness of thy hope and strength and fame,
Like some proud ship that led the fleet so long,
written by Walt Whitman, published on Wed 01.13.2010 at 21:03
WHAT ship, puzzled at sea, cons for the true reckoning?
Or, coming in, to avoid the bars, and follow the channel, a perfect
written by Walt Whitman, published on Wed 12.30.2009 at 10:14
NOT my enemies ever invade me--no harm to my pride from them I fear;
But the lovers I recklessly love--lo! how they master me!
written by Walt Whitman, published on Sun 12.27.2009 at 07:27
FROM my last years, last thoughts I here bequeath,
Scatter'd and dropt, in seeds, and wafted to the West,
written by Walt Whitman, published on Sat 12.12.2009 at 19:33
BY broad Potomac's shore--again, old tongue!
(Still uttering--still ejaculating--canst never cease this babble?)
written by Walt Whitman, published on Fri 12.04.2009 at 05:39
SILENT and amazed, even when a little boy,
I remember I heard the preacher every Sunday put God in his
statements,