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328 Mickle Street Camden New Jersey U S America Aug: 26 '86 My dear Edward Dowden Herbert Gilchrist has

I think of collecting together my prose & verse of the last five years, & printing a little Vol: under

the title of "November Boughs"—also of bringing out a complete budget of all my writing in one book.

Russell, which came to us through my sister Miss Stevenson.

is pleasant to know where one has excited an interest, & in asking you to acknowledge its receipt, my

My direction is to care of Charles P. Curtis, Boston. With regard, I am, Margaret S.

My friend, Jules Laforgue (who died only too prematurely) has already given to the public two of your

In expectation of your kind reply, Sir and dear poet, permit me to assure you of my sympathy in art and

of my profound admiration.

[I approve of your attempt to translate certain of my poems into the German tongue.

Indeed, arrogant as the statement may seem, I had more than my own native land in view when I was composing

I had also in mind, as one of my objects, to send a hearty greeting to these lands in America's name.

My dear Sir: Would you be willing to entertain a proposition to cross this Autumn to England and deliver

From facts in my possession I am quite sure that you would be very successful for the cultured class

My friend and yours, R.

Wednesday—I am better than I was last week—not as well as I would like to be, but well enough to keep on with my

It is beautiful weather here to-day—I have got my new trowsers—$20!!—only think of that!

—it is lucky I wear my clothes a long while— Walt.

(For what is my life, or any man's life, but a conflict with foes—the old, the incessant war?)

painful and choked articulations—you mean- nesses meannesses ; You shallow tongue-talks at tables, (my

You broken resolutions, you racking angers, you smother'd ennuis; Ah, think not you finally triumph—My

Yet had to have the papers: "They are as necessary as my food."

I know these people are my friends—respect the work I have tried to do.

I will amend my prayer: God help us not to want to get rich!"

poems, Leaves of Grass, in England under my sanction.

Yes," I said to W., "that's rather on my side.

He motioned me to a seat—questioned me about my day's work, etc.

W. said: "I am confident of it: but I always plant myself on my own plans in the end."

But my book has aroused his suspicions.

I said something in my note to Bucke to-daytoday about the possibility of W.'

Lanier was once my friend—once thought himself on my side: he shied off later—could n'tcouldn't stand

. * shall uncage in my breast a thousand armed great winged broad‑ wide‑winged strengths and unknown

I want that untied tenor, clean and fresh as the Creation, whose vast pure volume floods my soul.

paces and powers, uncage in my heart a thousand new strengths, and unknown ardors and terrible —making

furious than hail hail and lightning. that leap lulling me drowsily with honeyed uncaging waking in my

likely relates to the following lines, from the poem that would be titled "Song of Myself": "I open my

I do not know what I carry in my arms pressed close to my side and bosom!

I turn my steps to "Zion's Mill" a cemetery.

My womb is clean and pure. It is ready for thy child my love.

how lovingly will I cherish and guard it, our child my love. Thine the pleasure my love.

My motives are pure and holy. Our boy my love! Do you not already love him?

Stopped in on my way to town. W. reading the Record. He spoke of feeling better.

My father was a great admirer of Lafayette—and Lafayette was indeed a grand man.

As to Lee, he said: "I am very loth to talk of Lee—my tongue, (I do not know but my pen, too) is slow

s raised my ire. W. realized at once that I was mad,—asked, "What is it about?"

Of course it appealed to me, awoke my response.

He recognized my skepticism.

W. said: "He was my friend—and yours, too, eh? No?

Desired my libretto.

"It's one of my regrets that the Wagner operas have never come my way—that I for my own part have not

—only serves to make my conviction more vehement."

Remember me to all my old friends in New York."

My theory has been to equip, equip, equip, from every quarter, my own power, possibility—through science

But my mind is animated by other ideas.

My parents' folks mostly farmers and sailors—on my father's side of English—on my mother (Van Velsor's

—This year lost, by death, my dear, dear mother—and, just before, my sister Martha—(the two best and

I refer to this simply to show my indisposition to advise the removal of an officer upon unproved charges

The transaction which has been lately brought to my notice in the Thomas case obliged me to suggest to

I was not moved in the slightest degree by any thing in the Stokes and Beatty case, but my action was

taken from my own views of propriety, without any suggestion whatever any suggestion whatever from the

Belmont Mass Dec 2 '85 My Dear Whitman— Maugre yr your wholesome advice, (exc. that I put in a page on

you & Hugo—parallelism of poetic-technique en-avant freshness &c) I have done gone & published my essay

I set up every stick of it mesilf indade , & corrected my proofs ( wh. which I'll have you know) were

Well, I have learned just enough to set up this & my poems (Heaven bless the mark—"poems" quotha,—I wd'nt

Whitman referred to Rossetti's edition as a "horrible dismemberment of my book" in his August 12, 1871

Pete, I am sitting in my room home, finishing this—have just had a bath, & dressed myself to go over

Foul Play" —if not, I have one here I will send you— Dear son, I believe that is all this time—I send my

love, dear son, & a good loving kiss—I think of you every day—Give my best regards to all enquiring

friends, & inform them I expect to be back in about three weeks— Good bye, my darling boy—from your comrade

since I first bought the "Leaves of Grass" and before that time I had most earnestly proclaimed to all my

Gilchrist has and to write my name also in my copy. I make this request because Mrs.

I learn from her that your health is better and she showed me a card from you which to my great delight

m Dear friends I send the within letter just rec'd from Harry—I am about as usual, & nothing new in my

time—better luck next time—It is heavy and bad outside, the wind blowing a gale—(I should like to put on my

W W London Feb 10—84 Dr Dear Old Friend: Am quite well with the exception of the abcess on my neck, it

Most of my friends appear to have forgotten me or think me of too little importance to drop a line.

My dear friend: I have just heard from Kennedy that your illness continues.

so glad that you have to help you so devoted a friend as young Traubel, and through you I give him my

hand and my thanks.

In these days the glorious words you have spoken about Death comes up in my mind, and I feel much as

INSANE, LONDON, ONTARIO London, Ont., 15 June 188 8 Since reaching home Wednesday evening I have had my

I wish I could drive you about them—the weather is charming here—I have in front of me, on my desk, here

in my office an enormous bouquet of snowballs, peonies, sweet flag &c Love to you RM Bucke I have gone

My opinion (not that it is worth any thing) is that this book of yours ought to have a sale and I think

Whitman on December 21, 1883, sent "A Backward Glance on My Own Road" to The North American Review and

& now I am paying the penalty of the exposure to the severe cold in another attack of neuralgia in my

I have just sent off my MS. to Briton.

If I can devise a better title I shall do so, but I think my readers will understand this one; the great

public does not care for my books anyhow.

buried a gifted and beautiful young wife, and such a letter from you did not tend to solace the pain of my

I gave my employé at the Secularist office the sum of £3 to procure a P.O.O. which I instructed him to

My employé, then, must have cheated me.

I would have done this at once on receiving your letter, but my wife's illness and death were so costly

New York Sunday 11/3/88 My dear Mr.

Whitman: You will remember my calling a few weeks back when I remember that I do so as a friend of Earl

I am as you know Wellesley Sayle an Englishman & am proud to be one of many thousands of my fellow countrymen

I shall most likely call at Phila on my way where I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you again.

London Ont Ontario Canada, Nov November 28– 83 1883 My Dear Old Friend: I arrived here safely Saturday

I am up in my little room writing this while my patients are sadly pacing up and down the hall.

Have 42 men in my charge. Will have to close for the present so good-bye.

M Nothing special to-day—weather fine, sunny—no doctor visiting—note f'm Century (Gilder) accepting my

met at the binder's, & I am to have as designed by them a specimen of the good cover, &c. ready for my

whack at it several times)— Sunday Jan: 13 Another fine sunny day—just right—Continue well considering—my

wolf skin spread on the back of it & the woolen foot-cloth in front on the floor, with a lap-spread on my

Whitman's poem "My 71st Year" was published in Century Illustrated Magazine in November 1889.

three days—good temperature, neither hot nor cold to-day—I neither improve nor really go back—Keep my

room rigidly yet—have had today a bowel movement—& sit up most of the time—eat my meals sufficiently

will document (witnessed by ocular witnesses as this state statute requires) and the designation of my

cool and raw—bad feeling in belly and head regions, all day so far—had the preluded coca-wine, & then my

Camden Feb: 28 '90 4PM Dark wet & warm (almost) to-day—stay in to-day—yesterday out nearly two hours in my

coffin, as I took a notion to, & was acquainted with him—Keep up the massages—am sitting here alone in my

den—lots of fog here lately—My supper is coming— March 1 early p m —weather "same subject continued"

just drink'd a mug of milk punch—dull & heavy enough here—read the papers, & read again— 1½ Have had my

Dear friend, My feeling and attitude about a volume of selections from my Leaves by Mr.

since that seems to be the pivotal affair, & since he has the kindness to shape his action so much by my

The recherché or ethereal sense of the term, as used in my book, arises probably from the actual Calamus

. [—] I send you today a copy of my Annual report, after you have looked it over let Horace have it—I

I am well, getting a good rest since my return home, sleep about 10 hours a night right along.

read some of Brown's books if not all of them. [—] A gloomy but pleasant afternoon here as I sit at my

desk in my office and look out the window, roads very sloppy with the melting snow.

Some of my friends say, 'Watch Dave.' I do watch him, but not because I do not think him square.

But when it comes to my books he shies some—they are more or less suspected.

Her influence on my side has perhaps helped some to save me with Stedman.

He laughingly called my name. I stopped.

I advise you to study its mechanics: that's where my advice ends.

"I am afraid if I don't pay my debt to Hicks now I will never do it at all.

And it is a sort of filial debt, too—a debt I owe my father, who loved Hicks."

He said: "On my bad days I like to kiss you good bye.

He grew very quiet, looked very gently into my face, pressed my hand, and turned to the window.I copy

I can't for my poor self at any rate. But never mind this.

Rose on my entrance, and went, with my assistance, to the chair.

"Have you heard of my latest splurge? No? Well—listen: I pulled a tooth today!

The fact is, I am on the move again, in spite of my disabilities."

"My eyes are poorly. It's so hot. You read it—read it for yourself—read it aloud."

"I am unable to do it myself: my pen can't go even on crutches."

At any rate, he has my admiration for some things he has done—yes, admiration: and my personal love surely

He looked up into my eyes, a wonderful smile on his face as his grasp of my hand tightened: "Yes—I do

, my boy: I know you: I believe you."

My dear mother is living and well; we speak of you.

on Personalism—for both of which attentions you have my thanks.

Very bright: talkative: voice vigorous: stayed on the bed during my visit.

Said; "I hold my own: I am a shattered man: but I keep my head up, which is a great thing."

He described himself as "relapsed to what I call my shaky half paralytic condition. Dr.

I remarked: "If he keeps my letters, they alone must fill a trunk."

On my getting ready to go out he said: "The last thing to be done is to put down the light."

But I had The Ethical Record in my pocket (January issue).

I said: "I usually get my copy Saturday anyhow."

own possibilities, probabilities: reckoned up my own account, so to speak.

All this time I held the Redpath letter opened in my hand.

It is a waste of breath for my friend to tell me I am healthy when my pulse records the circumstance

W. wore his bright blue gown, and said: "I have just been out to my favorite companion—the river!

My mail today had also brought me letters from Rhys, Rolleston, Rossetti and William Morris.

89If convenient please give the bearer, for the Photo: Process Co: for me, the negative of the photo: my

But it was my fault you did not find 'em. I failed to tell Ed why I had placed them there."

I had a letter from Kerr, of Unity, saying he would publish my O'Connor article, which I had sent him

samples, and he was very happy in them, saying at once on handling them: "Yes, they will do—he caught my

Adding—"I shall look at them at my leisure. And what about the cost?"

Called my attention to it. Asked me: "Is Morris unusually gay and happy?

That was a great Long Island phrase in my early days.

There was one of my English critics who dwelt upon the prominence I give to the sense of smell—gave it

Reached Camden 8:15, and after breakfast and a bath, and examining my mail, down to W.'s.

Among various letters come since my going away was this: Elmwood, Cambridge1st June, 1891Dear Sir,I very

greatly regret that, owing to an accident, your letter, though it reached my house, did not reach me

I should have been glad to add my felicitations & good wishes to yours had it been possible.Faithfully

I shall put it in my report as a footnote. W. advised simply, "Do as you will."

SPONTANEOUS me, Nature, The loving day, the mounting sun, the friend I am happy with, The arm of my friend

hanging idly over my shoulder, The hill-side whiten'd with blossoms of the mountain ash, The same, late

en- circling encircling fingers—the young man all color'd, red, ashamed, angry; The souse upon me of my

chastity of paternity, to match the great chastity of maternity, The oath of procreation I have sworn—my

greed that eats me day and night with hungry gnaw, till I saturate what shall produce boys to fill my

SPONTANEOUS me, Nature, The loving day, the mounting sun, the friend I am happy with, The arm of my friend

hanging idly over my shoulder, The hillside whiten'd with blossoms of the mountain ash, The same late

and glued together with love, Earth of chaste love, life that is only life after love, The body of my

trembling encircling fingers, the young man all color'd, red, ashamed, angry; The souse upon me of my

greed that eats me day and night with hungry gnaw, till I saturate what shall produce boys to fill my

SPONTANEOUS me, Nature, The loving day, the friend I am happy with, The arm of my friend hanging idly

over my shoulder, The hill-side whitened with blossoms of the mountain ash, The same, late in autumn—the

pressed and glued together with love, Earth of chaste love—life that is only life after love, The body of my

and trembling encircling fingers—the young man all colored, red, ashamed, angry; The souse upon me of my

greed that eats me day and night with hungry gnaw, till I saturate what shall produce boys to fill my

SPONTANEOUS me, Nature, The loving day, the mounting sun, the friend I am happy with, The arm of my friend

hanging idly over my shoulder, The hillside whiten'd with blossoms of the mountain ash, The same late

and glued together with love, Earth of chaste love, life that is only life after love, The body of my

trembling encircling fingers, the young man all color'd, red, ashamed, angry; The souse upon me of my

greed that eats me day and night with hungry gnaw, till I saturate what shall produce boys to fill my

Dear friend, I am going to write you to ask any friends you may be in communication with for aid for my

Then I select the most needy cases & devote my time & services much to them.

hospitals, nothing but the mere hard routine, no time for tenderness or extras)—So I go round—Some of my

My brave young American soldiers—now for so many months I have gone around among them, where they lie

too near to each other, there is no time to lose, & death & anguish dissipate ceremony here between my

O'Grady | sent photos to him Dec 24 '81 11 Lr Lower Fitzwilliam St Dublin October 5, 1881 Dear Sir, My

My impressions regarding this literature I have published in various works.

poems & tales into a complete whole & so the student can never be exactly certain what is & what is not my

In the revolt of Islam he has a fine Panegyric on the future of America Fr For my own part I put him

I do not meet in you the expression of every changing ideal punctuating even the remotest parts of my

Dear Friend and Master You see I am now back in my own country.

I am staying, with my wife (I have been married about 18 months) at my father's house.

You did not say anything about my translation of Epictetus which I sent you.

I want it as a present for a friend, so don't write my name in the beginning.

Indeed the friend is my wife—so on second thoughts I would be glad, & so would she, if you would write

Woodbury Thursday July 30 My friend I feel but little in the humour for writing any thing that will have

live here ten hours he would fret himself to death: I have heard the words "thank you," but once since my

—It was fun no doubt, but it cost me two mortal pounds of flesh, besides numerous remnants of my apparrel

a miserable kind of a dog: I am sick of wearing away by inches, and spending the fairest portion of my

—I pray the fates he may rid me of my spleen ere long W. W. Abrahan P. Leech | Jamaica L.I.

It will be my duty to so blend these diverse views that a true picture may result from them.

Should you comply with my request, and give me what information you can, I am satisfied that you will

and if you would like to have it I shall preserve your name and address and shall send you a copy of my

I may say that it is not my intention to incorporate literally in my book any reply that I may receive

It is not my present intention to mention the names of any persons who supply me with information; if

Philadelphia—it is hard work, especially as I have no one to go with me—but I put a bold face on, & my

easily do if I would I should like much to go on the trips so handy & cheap, right as you might say from my

is to have every thing wanting—(Pete, dear son, there was $89 coming to you, of the money you put in my

love—also my love to Mr & Mrs.

Nash the next time you go there—so good by for the present my darling son, & you must keep good heart

ME SPONTANEOUS me, Nature, The loving day, the mounting sun, the friend I am happy with, The arm of my

friend hanging idly over my shoulder, The hill-side whiten'd with blossoms of the mountain ash, The

press'd and glued together with love, Earth of chaste love—life that is only life after love, The body of my

and trembling encircling fingers—the young man all color'd, red, ashamed, angry; The souse upon me of my

greed that eats me day and night with hungry gnaw, till I saturate what shall produce boys to fill my