The Walt Whitman Archive
In Whitman's Hand
Manuscripts
About this Item
Title: I can tell of the
Creator: Walt Whitman
Date: Between 1850 and 1855
Whitman Archive ID: nyp.00511
Source: The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, New York Public Library. Transcribed from digital images of the original item. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of manuscripts, see our statement of editorial policy.
Editorial note: This manuscript was probably written between 1850 and 1855, when Whitman was preparing materials for the first (1855) edition of Leaves of Grass. The lines in this manuscript are similar to lines used in the first poem of that edition, eventually titled "Song of Myself."
Related item: On the back of this manuscript is a prose draft. See nyp.00113.
Contributors to digital file: Stephanie Blalock, Caitlin Henry, Nicole Gray, Kirsten Clawson, and Janel Cayer
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Did you hear of the Hear now I can tell of ^the long besieged city? fort on the frontier? city citadel?
I was in its last bombardment.
No need of a reveille from the drummers that mor[cut away]
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