The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
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View Page 207
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View Page 207
I HEAR AMERICA SINGING.
| I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear; |
| Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong; |
| The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam, |
| The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work; |
| The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat— the deck-hand singing on the steamboat deck; |
| The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing as he stands; |
| The wood-cutter's song—the ploughboy's, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown; |
| The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing— Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else; |
| The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, |
| Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs. |