Unidentified Correspondent to Walt Whitman, 20 September 1890
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O death I cover you over with roses and early lilies1 But mostly and now the lilac that blooms the
first Copius I break, I break the sprigs from the
bushes. With loaded arms I come, pouring for you For you and the coffins all of you O death. Sea-winds blown from East and West Blown from the Eastern Sea and blown
from, the Western Sea, till there on the
prairies meeting. These and with these I'll perfume the grave
of him I love O what shall I hang on the chamber walls? And what shall the pictures be I hang
on the walls, To adorn the burial house of him I love, O light and free and tender! O wild and loose to my soul—O wonderous
singer. You only I hear, yet this star
holds me, (but will soon depart) Yet the lilac with mastering odor holds me. Sing on dearest brother warble your reedy song. Loud human song, with voice of utter–most
woe, Limitless out of the dusk out of the ceders
and pines.
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This moment yearning and thoughtful I turn back and think of that old man whom I met but once only for a few minutes, His books read and absorbed in part, his life, a part of it read of asking about of men lingers about the ferry houses, looking for a glimpse of his face at the little former house yet never seeing him, wondering eager over the names since first I saw or heard it, now learning to love the man the book and the author. I have two photographs, one in book, the other lately taken, within ten years. I look at the engraving in Leaves of Grass, at the gray in the beard at the features all absorbing and always wondering "if only he could know" everything is all light, transparent as light, yet all dark and moody and tearful I would prize above all earthly things to see you and loaf awhile and ask you so much and so many things. I wonder now if you still are the same lover of God and man unconventionally as is portrayed in Leaves of Grass.
I read not long ago in the Century a line "the vagaries of my life"2
This troubled me—is the book and its plan and purpose a vagary.
All the teaching of the native inherent immortality of the soul, is this a
a 
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vagary. The Hebrew Scriptures declare so, the New Testament writings declare so. "If you love me, keep
my commandments."3 If you care for me read my book.
I am sorry that the People do not understand, but as yet, the people of the States have
not arisen, wait for the fusion of
nationalities and the type shall come forth. I hear much talk of the Lord's coming,
but all things center on this our globe.
I cannot understand much of these things, only of my love and affection this I am sure of.
May I call my self a pupil—Dear old man you are beloved more
than you can know this is the best I have and you have it. I see you there and my hearts
love goes out to you to night across
seas and continents, now three score years and ten and soon to be yours, if only America
would listen and the young men and young women could see that ideal life:
To time, this is your book's dedication
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Notes
- 1. The writer opens this letter with lines from Whitman's poem, "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd." For more on the poem, see R. W. French, "'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd' [1865]," Walt Whitman: An Encyclopedia, ed. J.R. LeMaster and Donald D. Kummings (New York: Garland Publishing, 1998). [back]
- 2. The writer is referring to Whitman's poem, "My 71st Year" which was first published in the Century Illustrated Monthly Magazine in November 1889. [back]
- 3. The writer is referencing the Bible; see John, Chapter 14, Verse 15. [back]