The Walt Whitman Archive
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About this Item
Title: Poemet
Creator: Walt Whitman
Date: February 4, 1860
Whitman Archive ID: per.00074
Source: New-York Saturday Press 4 February 1860: 2. 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, and Susan Belasco
 image 1 |  cropped image 1 |
[For the Saturday Press.]
Poemet.1
That shadow, my likeness, that goes to and fro, seek-
ing a livelihood, chattering, chaffering,
ing a livelihood, chattering, chaffering,
How often I find myself standing and looking at it
where it flits,
where it flits,
How often I question and doubt whether that is really
me;
me;
But in these, and among my lovers, and carolling my
songs,
songs,
O I never doubt whether that is really me.
WALT WHITMAN.
Notes:
1. This poem later appeared as "Calamus No. 40," Leaves of Grass (1860); as "That Shadow My Likeness," Leaves of Grass (1867); and, with slight changes in the text, in Leaves of Grass (1881–82). [back]