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We have had cold & spiteful weather all the time of my visit here—over a month—& I have not had my usual

finds any difficulty—but I guess not—I guess he is getting along well—Is there any thing new among my

I have got out my new edition, from same plates as the last, only all bound in One Vol.

done in green cloth, vellum—looks the best & most ship-shape of any edition yet—have not added any of my

William is here—which adds much indeed to the pleasure of my visit—William has not recovered from an

Price & her girls are well & in good spirits—I am enjoying my vacation agreeably, but moderately—as becomes

a gentleman of my size & age.

Give my love to Mr. and Mrs.

My last letter to William was also to you—though I suppose you did not see it yet.

Camden July 12 '88 Thursday night after 9 It gets very tedious here—(I have now been in my room and bed

justify themselves—even for old habit, if nothing else— It was probably the sixth or seventh whack of my

war paralysis, and a pretty severe one—the doctors looked glum—Bucke I think saved my life as he happened

I am sitting up, had a fair night—rose late, have eaten my breakfast—have rec'd a good letter from O'C—nothing

Today my head thicks somewhat today. Love to you, dear friend.

He is my larger, greater, earlier self. No man alive seems quite so near to me" (280).

My dear friend, I suppose you saw my letter to William O'Connor, a week since, with notice of my safe

Give my best respects to Mrs.

There is nothing specially new or important among my folks—they all wish me to give their best regards

"The text is a little mixed up," W. said of it apologetically: "My mind is not now-a-days a perfect machine

"My brain often takes speed and is away—gets rein-free and flies without will or plan—and I am helpless

"My whole soul revolts against that line: my very first feeling was one of utter disgust."

My place in Washington was a peculiar one—my reasons for being there, my doing there what I did do.

I do not think I quite had my match.

yesterday—"but only a very little—a shade better: though, as you understand, a little is a great deal in my

Linton once used his portrait in a book he prepared for Bohn—asked my permission, which I granted.

The minutes to a man in my straits are golden.

I seem to have only one thing in mind—only one: the book, the book, only the book—and you, who are my

"Yes I did: I never gave my assent to any abbreviated editions which I didn't live to regret.

"Is this my little growl?

Well—you must let me have the growl—listen patiently—my growl is worse than my spring."

William O'Connor used to say this was rather a contradiction between my life and my philosophy.

I know I ought to know Weiss and Johnson—they are my men, I am their man—but I own up to my entire ignorance

Ask my enemies if I ain't extreme.

anything—I was only lamenting to myself my own limitations, and wishing that I had something to do with

And laughingly to my insistence that we might try, "Yes, try, but this den does not lend itself that

My evening hours at home have been about as fully occupied with official labors as my days at the Department

Now that Congress, the presence of which always complicates our work, has adjourned, and my office is

gradually approaching a settled condition, I hope soon to be able to redeem my promise.I wish, if it

My publisher has only sent me $80 as profits on my books for over a year.

But my friends everywhere are remembering me.

It would not be the truth to say that my only friends are in England.

My spirits are buoyant and my health fair: I am indeed content."

I am compelled to admit that my Western experiences are behind all of my life work.

I quoted my dentist who got off an old saw while he was working on one of my sensitive teeth: "Seeing

My dear Whitman: I find your book and cordial letter, on returning home from a lecturing tour in New

I have had the first edition of your Leaves of Grass among my books, since its first appearance, and

My first notion is one of disappointment.

It's not in my line at all.

s—and when into his room, found him, eyes open, alive to my presence.

Fairchild's letter, received last night: Boston, Jan. 12.My dear Mr.

and my trumpet-call to the end of my life.Will you tell him this?

—and that my thoughts are often with him in love and veneration.

And again, "Bless her and give her my love!"

My version of "Live Oak" differs from Parker's version in the Fourth Edition of The Norton Anthology

of American Literature (1994) , and Parker disapproves of my version, my title, and my interpretation

My essay first appeared in American Poetry Review months before The Continuing Presence came out, and

In any case, it's the later essay with my version of "Live Oak" that Parker rails against.

Parker is right in saying that I neglected to defend my choice, clearly a flaw in my essay.

Receive me and my lover too—he will not let me go without him.

me, and takes the place of my lover, He rises with me silently from the bed.

my clothes were stolen while I was abed, Now I am thrust forth, where shall I run?

carefully darn my grandson's stockings.

How he informs against my brother and sister, and takes pay for their blood!

States awhile—but I cannot tell whither or how long; Perhaps soon, some day or night while I am singing, my

Open mouth of my Soul, uttering gladness, Eyes of my Soul, seeing perfection, Natural life of me, faithfully

To prepare for sleep, for bed—to look on my rose- color'd rose-color'd flesh; To be conscious of my body

How my thoughts play subtly at the spectacles around! How the clouds pass silently overhead!

I remember I said, before my leaves sprang at all, I would raise my voice jocund and strong, with reference

Is acting on my idea to proceed with circular for book.

My dear Traubel:You are much in my thought these days—days to you of trembling hope and dread, of life

That would be my last and sweetest prize, tuft, plume, gift—Manhattan Island—my first love."

But this is one of my bad days—one of my worst—and I am not up to a talk with you.

Take my love, dear boy—and take with you, too, my best remembrance to all the fellows in New York, telling

I had my choice when I commenc'd.

My Book and I—what a period we have presumed to span!

my own distinctive era and surroundings, America, Democracy?)

I felt it all as positively then in my young days as I do now in my old ones; to formulate a poem whose

But my volume is a candidate for the future.

EARLY in the morning, Walking forth from the bower, refreshed with sleep, Behold me where I pass—hear my

voice—approach, Touch me—touch the palm of your hand to my body as I pass, Be not afraid of my body.

farewell my beloved sons farewell i have lived beyond all comfort in this world dont mourn for me my

beloved sons and daughters farewel my dear beloved walter Louisa Van Velsor Whitman to Walt Whitman,

Willard, would in any degree affect my official action in that matter.

Perhaps it is not possible for one in your circumstances to view such cases as they appear to one in my

so disproportioned a share of attention given to it, and which was cheerfully given, (on account of my

But this was only a passing impulse on my part, and I desire you to feel that I retain no unkindness

or the mere addition of respectable names to the list of petitioners, will not produce a change in my

I expressed the feeling that the book as a whole did not reach my expectations—that it was too literary—not

For my pleasure it could not have assumed a better form."

Further—"This will undoubtedly be my last public appearance—" I interrupted laughingly—"Like the farewells

consciousness it is that what I say is true—that this is my last—that there comes an end, and here are

of the big book to give to Jennie May—just married to Sam Fels—which I transferred with Anne's and my

Found Longaker sitting there with W., Longaker immediately going on my entrance, having other patients

doubting laugh, "It is always funny—sometimes exhilarating—to me, to be sometimes told after one of my

I had the Lippincott's proof with me, would leave it till eight, to call then to have my own look at

W. contends still, "This is my 73rd, not my 72nd birthday"—meaning that the 72nd anniversary is the 73rd

shoulder (I was working)—that my signature was one of the hardest he knew to imitate.

I talked freely and calmly to him, then gave him Longaker's and my Philadelphia addresses—telling him

Now new samples of paper, out of which he readily settled upon the one I had told Ferguson was my own

two books bound together—mainly for my own use.

"Yes, I think I have—my name certainly gets about more—but what does it amount to?"

"No rally seems possible—it is my last run of fish." Had been down in the parlor today.

I break down allmost almost to hysteria at times, from exhaustion but my appetite remains steadfast,

does not; is averse to having our clothes put to laundry; their condition is so bad: beside to keep my

house free from embarressment must beware of debt; for pay day comes at last, and my habitation is a

professional labours and endurance; my devotion—yet so many have imperative needs of their.

George should help us, all he can: Han's friends or relatives are known: and my embarressments embarrassments

your Mother telling me of your very severe illness in wich which you have our Heartfelt Sympathy (Both my

poor hand at it—and the trouble with cousin-Sarah she writes her letters so plainly—you must excuse my

that interests me just now and I will tell you all about—it is to take place this month) to two of my

wifes that can grace the parlor or grace the kitchen (if need be) this is the kind of wife, men in my

I could have written a more sympathetic letter (But then my heart is so full of my own sad Afflictions

every week or month a button or peg gives out—most of the time mildly—but I realize it well enough—my

dulling)—warmth shaded a little to-day & cloudy any how—ate a rare egg & some Graham bread & coffee for my

—I hope to resume practice in the state, some time in the future, when I have paid my debts and saved

My mother is still living in Boston at the age of 75, well and hearty.

—God bless you my old and long tried friend—"With fond affection and recollection.

Elster at Throudhjem, containing my last, (the College poem) & a piece in about my sickness.

is well at last accounts. 4) I myself have pleased myself more fully with Redwood Tree than any of my

Columbus is more popular far)—I suppose it is hardly necessary to tell you that I have pitched and keyed my

America Aug. 28, '74 Rudolf Schmidt My dear friend, Your letter of July 28, from Gaûsdal, in "old Norway

I was dismissed from my clerkship under Government at Washington about two months ago.

Still at times my thoughts will go back & hover & nestle about the little home & the many familiar places

I graze in them with my eyes daily. Grass like this is never seen so far south on the Potomac.

summit, & could see the Catskills 50 miles to the North, & peaks that I recognized as visible from my

I have plenty of time on my hands now, but do not seem able to turn it to any account in a literary way

I can't get back my ruminating habit.

It is now my chief delight and I am glad to tell you so.

Command me in return, my friend, and see if I will not respond.

neck, My brown hands, and the silent manner of me, without charm.

My friend Joaquin Miller and I have often talked of you.

I desired much to see you when I was on my way home from the Old World—two years ago—but failed.

publish'd—from the pleasures, profits, eruditions, conformities, Which too long I was offering to feed my

soul; Clear to me, now, standards not yet publish'd—clear to me that my Soul, That the Soul of the man

substantial life, Bequeathing, hence, types of athletic love, Afternoon, this delicious Ninth-month, in my

forty-first year, I proceed, for all who are, or have been, young men, To tell the secret of my nights

Give me the drench of my passions! Give me life coarse and rank!

with the dancers, and drink with the drinkers; The echoes ring with our indecent calls; I take for my

love some prostitute—I pick out some low person for my dearest friend, He shall be lawless, rude, illiterate—he

one condemn'd by others for deeds done; I will play a part no longer—Why should I exile myself from my

hitherto publish'd, from the pleasures, profits, conformities, Which too long I was offering to feed my

soul, Clear to me now standards not yet publish'd, clear to me that my soul, That the soul of the man

substantial life, Bequeathing hence types of athletic love, Afternoon this delicious Ninth-month in my

forty-first year, I proceed for all who are or have been young men, To tell the secret of my nights

Give me the drench of my passions! Give me life coarse and rank!

dancers, and drink with the drink- ers drinkers , The echoes ring with our indecent calls, I take for my

love some prostitute—I pick out some low person for my dearest friend, He shall be lawless, rude, illiterate—he

one condemned by others for deeds done; I will play a part no longer—Why should I exile myself from my

hitherto published—from the pleasures, profits, conformities, Which too long I was offering to feed to my

Soul Clear to me now, standards not yet published— clear to me that my Soul, That the Soul of the man

substantial life, Bequeathing, hence, types of athletic love, 29* Afternoon, this delicious Ninth Month, in my

forty- first year, I proceed, for all who are, or have been, young men, To tell the secret of my nights

hitherto publish'd, from the pleasures, profits, conformities, Which too long I was offering to feed my

soul, Clear to me now standards not yet publish'd, clear to me that my soul, That the soul of the man

substantial life, Bequeathing hence types of athletic love, Afternoon this delicious Ninth-month in my

forty-first year, I proceed for all who are or have been young men, To tell the secret of my nights

evening March 8 Dear son, I thought I would write you just a short letter, if no more, as you are in my

I sometimes come to the office nights, to read, it is so quiet—and now I am sitting here at my desk,

So I thought of my dear boy, and will send a few words, though nothing particular to say.

Johnny, I send you my love, & good night for this time—the mail closes at 8, & it is some after 7 now

delighted to offer you $10 not so much as compensation for the service rendered—as an expression of my

Not having heard from you in any way I fear lest my letter may have gone astray. My friend Col.

If needful I could I think get a note of introduction to you from my friend John Burroughs — With great

Dear friend: I sent my article on you to Walsh some weeks ago—have not heard from him but assume he will

I am now bargaining with Roberts bros. thereto. — I am also writing dramas—my fourth and last is praised

I shall try to bring that out next spring— I send you my photo—it may be of interest to you—I had just

been lecturing upon your prose and the book in my hand is "Specimen Days."

enough—I get down to the river side at sunset in wheel chair & if the evn'g is pleasant stay an hour—had my

tea—(eat only two meals a day)—miss Alys a good deal —sell a book occasionally—am sitting here now in my

den in Mickle St. in my big chair all comfortable quiet out—my last poem piece was rejected & sent back

have just been reading your Monday's note for the second time—& will write a line in rejoinder, with my

out of the gurgling brook, just as I sit here, half shade, half in the warm sun, as I sit here after my

I am still pretty well,—Still enjoy my natural days here, by the creek—(but they are now drawing to a

Herby is well & brown—Shall be up in good time to be with with my dear neices nieces & all of you—I wonder

431 Stevens street Camden N J July 11 p m My dear friend I kept staying & staying in N Y (four weeks

altogether)—but took the 4 p m train yesterday & had a fine run to Philadelphia—So here I am to-day today in my

a great accumulation of letters—all those of the past month—so you will understand several things (my

going down to White Horse Saturday —No letter from Bee yet—I suppose you the Tribune of July 4 with my

hitherto publish'd—from the pleasures, profits, conformities, Which too long I was offering to feed my

Soul; Clear to me, now, standards not yet publish'd—clear to me that my Soul, That the Soul of the man

substantial life, Bequeathing, hence, types of athletic love, Afternoon, this delicious Ninth-month, in my

first forty-first year, I proceed, for all who are, or have been, young men, To tell the secret of my

HERE the frailest leaves of me and yet my strongest lasting, Here I shade and hide my thoughts, I myself

do not expose them, And yet they expose me more than all my other poems.

HERE the frailest leaves of me and yet my strongest lasting, Here I shade and hide my thoughts, I myself

do not expose them, And yet they expose me more than all my other poems.

Leaves of Grass," said W. tonight, "were neither moral nor literary, but were given with an eye to my

My old fencing-master, Boulet, (no better ever lived; he taught once at West Point,) taught me always

to cover my breast with hilt and point, even in the lunge, and I think of his lessons when engaged in

My aim has been to shut Chadwick up for good, for I don't want to be bothered on a side issue by this

Channing at Providence, red-hot for you, and proposing to reprint my Good Gray Poet at his expense!!

My work is extremely personal—rightly considered so—and on the fly-leaf of each volume I have put my

photograph with my own hand."

I have printed my own works, and am now printing them in two volumes, for sale.

I am living here at my brother's house.

A paralysis of the left side, which chiefly affects my left leg and thigh, hinders me.

and I am still without the first show of substantial strength—though it is true the acute phases of my

"Yes, indeed, essentially knows it well: I think she takes it in—reads nearly all my books.

My forte was—if I can say it that way—in floating.

After I had written my letter to Emerson I wondered if I had not overdone my call.

My Dear Sir:Mr.

But I am tempted to try my hand on the question.

Miss Porter has been solicitous to use my Whitman-Lowell paper. Wrote me about it—date 27th.

I must off to my duties wh. await me.

so divines from my few missives.

Bucke's letter 29th very hearty and specially recognizing my occupations and excusing my silence, even

Upstairs in his room W. reading—looking not over well—yet cheerful in mien and speech—though in reply to my

question saying, "I still stay at my low ebb—these are dark days."

It was bright sunshine in my room here as long as she stayed."

splendid praise and approval.To know that a man like yourself understands me is enough and with all my

In my hands it would not have been so certain of delivery."

Sunday Night Aug 31/62 My Dear Walt, I feel just like writing to you.

I together with my dear wife have had lots of hard experiences—ill health, sickness of children and my

is my last night at home.

My friends told me my chance for a berth in the P.O. was one in a thousand.

My heart is in the war & I ache to do something. But I can't.

Dear sister, You have heard of my fortunes and misfortunes of course, (through my letters to mother and

Since I laid my eyes on dear brother George, and saw him alive and well—and since I have spent a week

The weather is perfect—I have had that in my favor ever since leaving home—yesterday and to-day it is

I write this in the place where I have my lodging room, 394 L street, 4th door above 14th street.

My Brooklyn boys were John Lowery, shot at Fredericksburgh, and lost his left forearm, and Amos H.