The Walt Whitman Archive
Life & Letters
Correspondence
About this Item
Title: Richard Maurice Bucke to Walt Whitman, 22 May 1881
Date: May 22, 1881
Whitman Archive ID: loc.05111
Source: The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, 1839–1919, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. The transcription presented here is derived from The Letters of Dr. Richard Maurice Bucke to Walt Whitman, ed. Artem Lozynsky (Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 1977), 9. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the correspondence, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Kirsten Clawson, Stefan Schöberlein, Nima Najafi Kianfar, and Nicole Gray
[London,]1
May 22d [188]1
Dear Walt
I was in hopes we should have seen you here before this time—our grounds are beautifull now, the trees are just in full leaf and they have that delicate fresh look which is so charming—the place is full of birds singing from early daylight all day long. A great many of your friends here are looking out anxiously for you (I have told them I expected you). I hope your health is not worse—I must say I am more afraid of that old complaint (something like laziness) keeping you away from us, than I am of your bodily health. But if you are still unwell remember that is all the more reason you should come here. I wish you would drop me a postcard. I am getting anxious about you
R M Bucke
Notes:
1. This letter is addressed: Walt Whitman | 431 Stevens Street | Camden | New Jersey. It is postmarked: LONDON | AM | MY 23 | 81 | CANADA. [back]