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It was included without the note in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891).; Our transcription is based on a digital

This poem later appeared as "Calamus No. 40," Leaves of Grass (1860); as "That Shadow My Likeness," Leaves

.; An earlier version of this poem entitled "My Departure" appeared in the Long Island Democrat, 23 October

.; An earlier version of this poem entitled "My Departure" appeared in the Long Island Democrat, 23 October

first edition of Leaves of Grass thirteen years later, where he famously writes, "I loaf and invite my

soul, / I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass," and later asking his

first edition of Leaves of Grass thirteen years later, where he famously writes, "I loaf and invite my

soul, / I lean and loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass," and later asking his

My Boys and Girls MY BOYS AND GIRLS.

Yet such is the case, as I aver upon my word.

Several times has the immortal Washington sat on my shoulders, his legs dangling down upon my breast,

Right well do I love many more of my children. H. is my "summer child."

But shall I forget to mention one other of my children?

Because issues of The Rover do not include a publication date, there is some disagreement about when "My

suggests March or April 1844—between March 27 and April 20, 1844—as the likely date of publication of "My

For more information on the autobiographical aspects of the story and its publication, see "About 'My

My Canary Bird

mentions in a letter to Richard Maurice Bucke on February 16, 1888: "it is chilly here as I finish this—my

[Out from Behind This Mask]Reprinted as "Out from Behind This Mask: To confront My Portrait, illustrating

[Come, said my Soul]According to the Comprehensive Reader's Edition of Leaves of Grass, this poem appeared

Two Rivulets" section of Two Rivulets (1876).; Reprinted as "Out from Behind This Mask: To confront My

.; An earlier version of this poem entitled "My Departure" appeared in the Long Island Democrat, 23 October

Grass (1871-72).; This poem later appeared as "Calamus No. 40," Leaves of Grass (1860); as "That Shadow My

November 1878 and as "To the Man-of-War-Bird" in Leaves of Grass (1881–82).; Reprinted in Good-Bye My

Revised and reprinted in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891).; This poem was reprinted in the Critic, 16 (24 May

"; Reprinted in Good-bye My Fancy (1891).

.; Reprinted as "Interpolation Sounds" in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891).

"My child!" she cried, in uncontrollable agony, "O! my child!"

This sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My child," first appeared, with minor differences, in

first sentence was revised further for publication as "Little Jane:" in "The Reformed," it reads "'My

she cried, in uncontrollable agony, 'my child! you die!'" Then there was silence awhile.

.; This sentence and the preceding one, beginning "My child," first appeared, with minor differences,

first sentence was revised further for publication as "Little Jane:" in "The Reformed," it reads "'My

she cried, in uncontrollable agony, 'my child! you die!'"

"Come, Said My Soul" was reprinted in the New York Daily Tribune, 19 February 1876, and on the title

.; Reprinted as "Out from Behind This Mask: To confront My Portrait, illustrating 'the Wound-Dresser,

In the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, Whitman famously wrote, "I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and

loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass" ( Leaves of Grass [Brooklyn: n.p., 1855]

In the 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, Whitman famously wrote, "I loafe and invite my soul, I lean and

loafe at my ease . . . . observing a spear of summer grass" (Leaves of Grass [Brooklyn: n.p., 1855],

.; Reprinted in Good-Bye My Fancy (1891).

.; This poem later appeared as "Calamus No. 40," Leaves of Grass (1860); as "That Shadow My Likeness,

Venice : "SHYLOCK: 'Signior Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my

moneys and my usances: / Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, / For sufferance is the badge of

of Venice: "SHYLOCK: 'Signior Antonio, many a time and oft / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my

moneys and my usances: / Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, / For sufferance is the badge of

The circumstances of my family were easy; I received a good education, was intended by my father for

The eldest was my favorite.

I kept a box of my own, and frequently attended, often giving my family permission also to be present

My blood curdled as I saw there an image of the form of my son—my cruelly treated Luke—but oh, how ghastly

I clapped my hands to my ears, to keep out the appalling sounds that seemed to freeze my very blood.

"They met—this man and my sister.

My sister fell!

"One day my sister was missing.

He accepted my challenge.

I was blinded by my hate for my sister's betrayer.

—A dusky mist spread itself before my eyes.

I wandered far, far away from my then and there existence.

scenes long since past, and faces that may never more greet my view.

—I saw every particular tree, and hill, and field, my old haunts.

—This is what I dread: for I have not enjoyed my young time.

My employer, Mr.

Andrews, had become so well satisfied with my performance of my duties, that he advanced me somewhat

above my original situation.

my duties during the day.

of my employer's honesty.

And the gentle creature blushes at my protestations of love, and leans her cheek upon my neck.

"My brother, thus have I lived my life. Your look asks me if I have been happy.

"My brother, a maiden's tears washed my stern resolves away.

Various fortune followed my path.

But I can lay my hand upon my heart, and thank the Great Master, that the sunshine has been far oftener

As I approached my nineteenth year, my uncle, who was an honest and worthy man, evidently felt that he

money, which I felt sure he must have cramped himself to bestow on me, I made my adieus to my aunt and

sorrowful cousins, and went my way.

city where I was to take up my abode.

Yes, here I had come to seek my fortune!

—She was as solemn and sour as the spinster, and upon my mentioning my business, gave me to understand

, but my friend of the day before, the antiquary.

What that may be, will depend a good deal upon my luck.

"I am determined to do my best.

I carefully deposited it in my breast pocket, and with a lighter step wended on to my new boarding-house

"My own fancy, Evans," he answered, "my own whim, perhaps. But we are not strangers.

I shall give his story in my own words.

My constitution, notwithstanding the heavy draughts made upon its powers by my youthful dissipations,

I allude to my old friend, Colby.

My country relations were not forgotten by me in my good fortune.

I felt of my hatchet's edge—it was keen as my hate.

my sorrowful cousins, and went my way.

Wife of my youth! of my early youth!

All my cruelty—all my former love—all my guilt—all my disregard of the sacred ties—seemed concentrated

My deeds were as good as my word.

Among temperance novels then quite popular were Lucius Manley Sargent's My Mother's Gold Ring (1833),

I took my lamp, and went my way to my room.

I stopped and leaned my back against the fence, with my face turned toward the white marble stones a

; and answered, "My husband's."

She looked at me for a minute, as if in wonder at my perverseness; and then answered as before, "My husband's

my open hands and thought.

have of late frequently come to me times when I do not dread the grave—when I could lie down, and pass my

, and he walked with me toward my residence.

—My slumbers were deep and unbroken.

As I took my departure from the place, who should I see in front, with a quill behind his ear, but my

My mistake in regard to the fashionable gentleman , had taught me a lesson, and my country life had taught

I pass over my stares of wonder, and my running aslant dungeon walls, castles, and canvas palaces.

I threw my valise upon a bench, and my over-coat upon it.

My employer, Mr.

my duties during the day.

knowledge and my memory.

My country relations were not forgotten by me in my good fortune.

There is no need that I should pause here to dwell on my meeting with my benefactor Lee, and the shame

with which I acknowledged my guilt, and gave him back his letter.

But great as was my fault, I was hardly prepared for his storm of anger.

: and at the end of a fortnight I left my place.

My little guide crouched down close by my feet—it may be that the knowledge of the presence of death

After I had been a while in my situation at Mr.

I made improvements both in my style of living, and in my dress—The new boarding-house in which I took

As it was now quite in the evening, I had hardly finished my meal before my companions came, according

Forgetful of my duty—of my employer's honor, and the crisis which would turn against him, if I continued

What fire burnt in my brain!

Conway returned my admiration, and whether she would have accepted the offer of my hand, had I been in

And I spoke with an energy that showed my mind.

it, than upon any other portion of my conduct.

I already began to blame myself for my deceit.

knowledge and my memory.

though shining out very brightly by fits and starts, seemed incapable of conveying any warmth, I took my

hat, which I was able to keep on my head not without considerable effort.

My flesh quivered with the bitter coldness of the air. My breath appeared steam. Qu-foo-o!

I gave an extra pull of my hat over my brows—a closer adjustment of my collar around my shoulders, and

way homeward, imbue my fancy with a kindred glee and joyousness!

Upon my arrival at my destination, (at which it was probable I should have to stay the better part of

I don't know whether I have intimated, in the preceeding course of my narrative, that my nature was not

My safety, hitherto, had been from the swiftness with which my passion passed over.

delusion to smile at my own folly.

I shortly made no secret of my attachment to Mrs. Conway.

New-York is my birth-place.

Of my brothers and sisters I shall introduce only one, my brother Matthew, not quite two years younger

I was intended for the profession of the law; though, being lazy in my studies, it was not until my twenty-first

The very first day of my appearance there, about the middle of the morning, there came to see my master

My eyesight seemed to waver, my head felt dizzy, and a feeling of deadly nausea came over me.

"You are welcome, my brother," said the Unrelenting.

Behold all that is left to brighten my heart!"

"Many years since," said the chief, "when my cheek was soft, and my arms felt the numbness of but few

I felt the edge of my tomahawk—it was keen as my hate.

I raised my arm—I gathered my strength—I struck, and cleft the warrior's brain in quivering halves!"

I threw my valise upon a bench, and my over-coat upon it.

The good landlady's further inquisitiveness was cut short, by my taking the driver out to his wagon,

for the purpose of making arrangements and settling the price of my passage.

My neighbor by the side of the country woman, was the only exception to this.

Turning around a moment to look at Colby, who called my attention in the room, the next minute my hearing

I was alone, the family of my host having gone on some visit to a neighbor.

Insensibly, my consciousness became less and less distinct; my head leaned back; my eyes closed; and

my senses relaxed from their waking vigilance.

The person to whom I spoke stared in my face surprisedly.

"Himself hung it around my neck," said the veteran.

fiercely, and rack my soul with great pain.

These elements are the influences of my nature on the one side, and those of my habits on the other.

My eyes answered, yes. So I learned language.

Only one of them came near to me, in my progress.

about my own age.

AN ADVENTURE ON HEMPSTEAD PLAINS, YEARS AGO One of my old friends for the last fifteen years has made

of these occasions, some ten years since, that he met with a little adventure wherewith he has, in my

My friend aforesaid had gone out to shoot on the Plains (stopping awhile on his way farther east) one

My friend was indeed tired, and thankfully accepted the honest fellow's offer.

My friend, be it known, is the most modest of men—and now what the deuce to do, was the question.

But to the account of my adventures (for it is now necessary to drop the editorial "we,") last fall,

hook again with "fiddlers," while the fish floundered at a great rate around my feet.

word, accoutred as I was, I plunged—the fish—into an old tin kettle, and gave them, with sixpence and my

the wharf with a boat-hook, and offering his shoulder for me to step on—though, as he was about half my

divided the water—to lie on my back and gaze by the half-hour at the passing clouds overhead—merely

little son, Prince Arthur, who was taken prisoner by his usurping uncle: "Grief fills the room up of my

had you such a loss as I, I could give better comfort than you do.— I will not keep this form upon my

head, When there is such disorder in my wit.

My boy, my Arthur, my fair son!

My life, my joy, my food, my all in the world, My widow–comfort, and my sorrow's cure!"

My people knew not of my coming—none but my brother's wife, to whom I confided my purpose, lest they

The love of life was strong in my soul.

I felt my arm, and said to myself, perhaps in the village of the pale-faces, there may be something that

In the night, when all were sleeping, I came out from our lodge, and bent my steps toward your town.

"Shame were it to me and my wife," said Thorne, "did we let one who has saved a life very dear to us,

Here is another characteristic scene of the dark and bloody year 1863, from notes of my visit to Armory

(I think I see my friends smiling at this confession, but I was never more in earnest in my life.)

A GLIMPSE FROM MY NOTES.

I can say that in my ministerings I comprehended all and slighted none.

It has given me my plainest and most fervent views of the true ensemble and extent of the States.

My people knew not of my coming—none but my brother's wife, to whom I confided my purpose, lest they

My sister fell!

"One day my sister was missing.

He accepted my challenge.

I was blinded by my hate for my sister's betrayer.

I was at that time studying law, the profession my father followed.

brother, and two other students who were in my father's office.

my fingers quiver yet as I write the word!) young Ninon, the daughter of the widow.

My brother was the only one who preserved his usual tenor of temper and conduct.

My sight seemed to waver, my head felt dizzy, and a feeling of deadly sickness came over me.

Therefore have I rummaged over the garners of my observation and memory for the following anecdotes—and

When my mother was a girl, the house where she and her parents lived was in a gloomy wood, out of the

When nightfall came, and my grandfather did not return, my grandmother began to feel a little uneasy.

My grandmother sprung to the door, but upon opening it, she almost fainted in my mother's arms.

For there stood D ANDY , saddled and bridled, but no signs of my grandfather.

My two acquaintances were both born and bred in the city; they both were sent to good schools; both had

And yet no man can differ more from my friend H OM than does my friend T OM .

My friend H OM is, at the same time, very much of a gentleman in his manners.

Now all that my friend H OM is not , my friend Tom B EPRIM is .

When I meet H OM in the street, he always grasps my hand, and salutes me by my first name.

Having neither the funds nor disposition to pass my little term of ruralizing at the fashionable baths

That is, my lodging place is at Greenport; but, in truth, I "circulate" in all directions around.

found on the coasts of Long Island between spring and late fall. however, are the most delicious, to my

Can there be any thing of the old gossip in my composition?

Bathing in this pure, clear, salt water, twice every day, is one of my best pleasures.

To my knowledge it is understood by Col. M ULFORD , Major John E.

In my opinion the Secretary has taken and obstinately held a position of cold-blooded policy, (that is

B UTLER , in my opinion, has also incorporated in the question of exchange a needless amount of personal

In my opinion, the anguish and death of these ten to fifteen thousand American young men, with all the