The Walt Whitman Archive
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About this Item
Title: Ship Ahoy!
Creator: Walt Whitman
Date: March 12, 1891
Whitman Archive ID: per.00037
Source: Youth's Companion (12 March 1891): 152. Our transcription is based on a digital image of a microfilm copy of an original issue. For a description of the editorial rationale behind our treatment of the periodical poems, see our statement of editorial policy.
Contributors to digital file: Elizabeth Lorang, April Lambert, Leslie Ianno, and Susan Belasco
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For the Companion.
SHIP AHOY!1
In dreams I was a ship, and sail'd the boundless seas,
Sailing and ever sailing—all seas, and into every port,
or out upon the offing,
or out upon the offing,
Saluting, cheerily hailing each mate I met, little or big,
"Ship ahoy!" thro' trumpet or by voice—from me some
friendly merry word at least,
friendly merry word at least,
For companionship and good-will to all and each.
WALT WHITMAN.