Complete Prose Works
quite a glaring contrast to my present bodily state:)
On a high rock above the vast abyss,
Whose solid base tumultuous waters lave;
Whose airy high-top balmy breezes kiss,
Fresh from the white foam of the circling wave--
There ruddy HEALTH, in rude majestic state,
His clust'ring forelock combatting the winds--
Bares to each season's change his breast elate,
And still fresh vigor from th' encounter finds;
With mighty mind to every fortune braced,
To every climate each corporeal power,
And high-proof heart, impenetrably cased,
He mocks the quick transitions of the hour.
Now could he hug bleak Zembla's bolted snow,
Now to Arabia's heated deserts turn,
Yet bids the biting blast more fiercely blow,
The scorching sun without abatement burn.
There this bold Outlaw, rising with the morn,
His sinewy functions fitted for the toil,
Pursues, with tireless steps, the rapturous horn,
And bears in triumph back the shaggy spoil.
Or, on his rugged range of towering hills,
Turns the stiff glebe behind his hardy team;
His wide-spread heaths to blithest measures tills,
And boasts the joys of life are not a dream!
Then to his airy hut, at eve, retires,
Clasps to his open breast his buxom spouse,
Basks in his faggot's blaze, his passions fires,
And strait supine to rest unbroken bows.
On his smooth forehead, Time's old annual score,
Tho' left to furrow, yet disdains to lie;
He bids weak sorrow tantalize no more,
And puts the cup of care contemptuous by.
If, from some inland height, that, skirting, bears
Its rude encroachments far into the vale,
He views where poor dishonor'd nature wears
On her soft cheek alone the lily pale;
How will he scorn alliance with the race,
Those aspen shoots that shiver at a breath;
Children of sloth, that danger dare not face,
And find in life but an extended death:
Then from the silken reptiles will he fly,
To the bold cliff in bounding transports run,
And stretch'd o'er many a wave his ardent eye,
Embrace the enduring Sea-Boy as his son!
Yes! thine alone--from pain, from sorrow free,
The lengthen'd life with peerless joys replete;
Then let me, Lord of Mountains, share with thee
The hard, the early toil--the relaxation sweet.
GAY-HEARTEDNESS
Walking on the old Navy Yard bridge, Washington, D. C., once with a
companion, Mr. Marshall, from England, a great traveler and observer, as
a squad of laughing young black girls pass'd us--then two copper-color'd
boys, one good-looking lad 15 or 16, barefoot, running after--"What _gay
creatures_ they all appear to be," said Mr. M. Then we fell to talking
about the general lack of buoyant animal spirits. "I think," said Mr.
M., "that in all my travels, and all my intercourse with people of
every and any class, especially the cultivated ones, (the literary and
fashionable folks,) I have never yet come across what I should call a
really GAY-HEARTED MAN."
It was a terrible criticism--cut into me like a surgeon's lance. Made me
silent the whole walk home.
AS IN A SWOON.
As in a swoon, one instant,
Another sun, ineffable, full-dazzles me,
And all the orbs I knew--and brighter, unknown orbs;
One instant of the future land, Heaven's land.
L. OF G.
Thoughts, suggestions, aspirations, pictures,
Cities and farms--by day and night--book of peace and war,
Of platitudes and of the commonplace.
For out-door health, the land and sea--for good will,
For America--for all the earth, all nations, the common people,
(Not of one nation only--not America only.)
In it each claim, ideal, line, by all lines, claims, ideals,
temper'd;
Each right and wish by other wishes, rights.
AFTER THE ARGUMENT.
A group of little children with their ways and chatter flow in,
Like welcome rippling water o'er my heated nerves and flesh.
FOR US TWO, READER DEAR.
Simple, spontaneous, curious, two souls interchanging,
With the original testimony for us continued to the last.
MEMORANDA
[Let me indeed turn upon myself a little of the light I have been so
fond of casting on others.
Of course these few exceptional later mems are far, far short of one's
concluding history or thoughts or life-giving--only a hap-hazard pinch
of all. But the old Greek proverb put it, "Anybody who really has a good
quality" (or bad one either, I guess) "has _all_." There's something in
the proverb; but you mustn't carry it too far.
I will not reject any theme or subject because the treatment is too
personal.
As my stuff settles into shape, I am told (and sometimes myself
discover, uneasily, but feel all right about it in calmer moments) it
is mainly autobiographic, and even egotistic after all--which I finally
accept, and am contented so.
If this little volume betrays, as it doubtless does, a weakening
hand, and decrepitude, remember it is knit together out of accumulated
sickness, inertia, physical disablement, acute pain, and listlessness.
My fear will be that at last my pieces show indooredness, and being
chain'd to a chair--as never before. Only the resolve to keep up, and
on, and to add a remnant, and even perhaps obstinately see what failing
powers and decay may contribute too, have produced it.
And now as from some fisherman's net hauling all sorts, and disbursing
the same.]
A WORLD'S SHOW
_New York, Great Exposition open'd in 1853._--I went a long time (nearly
a year)--days and nights--especially the latter--as it was finely
lighted, and had a very large and copious exhibition gallery of
paintings (shown at best at night, I tho't)--hundreds of pictures from
Europe, many masterpieces--all an exhaustless study--and, scatter'd
thro' the building, sculptures, single figures or groups--among the
rest, Thorwaldsen's "Apostles," colossal in size--and very many fine
bronzes, pieces of plate from English silversmiths, and curios from
everywhere abroad--with woods from all lands of the earth--all sorts of
fabrics and products and handiwork from the workers of all nations.
NEW YORK--THE BAY--THE OLD NAME
_Commencement of a gossipy travelling letter in a New York city paper,
May 10, 1879_.--My month's visit is about up; but before I get back to
Camden let me print some jottings of the last four weeks. Have you not,
reader dear, among your intimate friends, some one, temporarily absent,
whose letters to you, avoiding all the big topics and disquisitions,
give only minor, gossipy sights and scenes--just as they come--subjects
disdain'd by solid writers, but interesting to you because they were
such as happen to everybody, and were the moving entourage to your
friend--to his or her steps, eyes, mentality? Well, with an idea
something of that kind, I suppose, I set out on the following
hurrygraphs of a breezy early-summer visit to New York city and up the
North river--especially at present of some hours along Broadway.
_What I came to New York for_.--To try the experiment of a lecture--to
see whether I could stand it, and whether an audience could--was my
specific object. Some friends had invited me--it was by no means clear
how it would end--I stipulated that they should get only a third-rate
hall, and not sound the advertising trumpets a bit--and so I started. I
much wanted something to do for occupation, consistent with my limping
and paralyzed state. And now, since it came off, and since neither my
hearers nor I myself really collaps'd at the aforesaid lecture, I intend
to go up and down the land (in moderation,) seeking whom I may devour,
with lectures, and reading of my own poems--short pulls, however--never
exceeding an hour.
_Crossing from Jersey city, 5 to 6 P.M._--The city part of the North
river with its life, breadth, peculiarities--the amplitude of sea and
wharf, cargo and commerce--one don't realize them till one has been
away a long time and, as now returning, (crossing from Jersey city to
Desbrosses-st.,) gazes on the unrivall'd panorama, and far down the
thin-vapor'd vistas of the bay, toward the Narrows--or northward up the
Hudson--or on the ample spread and infinite variety, free and floating,
of the more immediate views--a countless river series--everything
moving, yet so easy, and such plenty of room! Little, I say, do folks
here appreciate the most ample, eligible, picturesque bay and estuary
surroundings in the world! This is the third time such a conviction
has come to me after absence, returning to New York, dwelling on its
magnificent entrances--approaching the city by them from any point.
More and more, too, the _old name_ absorbs into me--MANNAHATTA, "the
place encircled by many swift tides and sparkling waters." How fit a
name for America's great democratic island city! The word itself,
how beautiful! how aboriginal! how it seems to rise with tall spires,
glistening in sunshine, with such New World atmosphere, vista and
action!
A SICK SPELL
_Christmas Day, 25th Dec., 1888_.--Am somewhat easier and freer to-day
and the last three days--sit up most of the time--read and write, and
receive my visitors. Have now been in-doors sick for seven months--half
of the time bad, bad, vertigo, indigestion, bladder, gastric, head
trouble, inertia--Dr. Bucke, Dr. Osler, Drs. Wharton and Walsh--now
Edward Wilkins my help and nurse. A fine, splendid, sunny day. My
"November Boughs" is printed and out; and my "Complete Works, Poems and
Prose," a big volume, 900 pages, also. It is ab't noon, and I sit here
pretty comfortable.
TO BE PRESENT ONLY
_At the Complimentary Dinner, Camden, New Jersey, May 31, 1889_.--Walt
Whitman said: My friends, though announced to give an address, there
is no such intention. Following the impulse of the spirit, (for I am at
least half of Quaker stock) I have obey'd the command to come and look
at you, for a minute, and show myself, face to face; which is probably
the best I can do. But I have felt no command to make a speech;
and shall not therefore attempt any. All I have felt the imperative
conviction to say I have already printed in my books of poems or prose;
to which I refer any who may be curious. And so, hail and farewell.
Deeply acknowledging this deep compliment, with my best respects and
love to you personally--to Camden--to New-Jersey, and to all represented
here--you must excuse me from any word further.
"INTESTINAL AGITATION"
_From Pall-Mall Gazette, London, England, Feb 8, 1890_ Mr. Ernest
Rhys has just receiv'd an interesting letter from Walt Whitman, dated
"Camden, January 22, 1890." The following is an extract from it:
I am still here--no very mark'd or significant change or
happening--fairly buoyant spirits, &c.--but surely, slowly ebbing. At
this moment sitting here, in my den, Mickle street, by the oakwood fire,
in the same big strong old chair with wolf-skin spread over back--bright
sun, cold, dry winter day. America continues--is generally busy enough
all over her vast demesnes (intestinal agitation I call it,) talking,
plodding, making money, every one trying to get on--perhaps to get
towards the top--but no special individual signalism--(just as well, I
guess.)
"WALT WHITMAN'S LAST 'PUBLIC'"
The gay and crowded audience at the Art Rooms, Philadelphia, Tuesday
night, April 15, 1890, says a correspondent of the Boston _Transcript_,
April 19, might not have thought that W. W. crawl'd out of a sick bed a
few hours before, crying,
Dangers retreat when boldly they're confronted,
and went over, hoarse and half blind, to deliver his memoranda and essay