In Whitman's Hand

Manuscripts

About this Item

Title: Remembrances I plant American ground

Creator: Walt Whitman

Date: Between 1850 and 1855

Whitman Archive ID: duk.00029

Source: Trent Collection of Whitmaniana, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. Transcribed from digital images of the original. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of manuscripts, see our statement of editorial policy.

Editorial note: This manuscript was likely written between 1850 and 1855 when Whitman was composing his first (1855) edition of Leaves of Grass. The manuscript includes some language similar to wording in the first and final poems in that edition, eventually titled "Song of Myself" and "Great are the Myths."

Related item: Written on the back of this leaf is a list of rivers, lakes, and cities that may have contributed to "Poem of Salutation" in the 1856 edition of Leaves. See duk.00884.

Contributors to digital file: Nicole Gray, John Havard, Chris Forster, Kristen Taylor, and Kevin McMullen



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[Page image: https://whitmanarchive.org/manuscripts/figures/duk_nhg.00713_large.jpg]

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Remembrances I plant American ground with,
for ^ you young men

Lessons to think, I diffuse scatter in the air ^as they come.

I behold perceive that myriads of men and women never think

I behold perceive that ere visible effects can come, ideas thought must come.

^I perceive that Sages, poets, inventers, benefactors, lawgivers
are but only those who think have thought,

^That Maugre all differences of ages and lands they
differ not,

That What they leave is the common stock of the race

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[Page image: https://whitmanarchive.org/manuscripts/figures/duk_nhg.00714_large.jpg]




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