Thursday, November 20, 2008

In Paths Untrodden: Walt Whitman

Credit goes to my mother for this. Working on many things right now hope to be back soon.

In paths untrodden,
In the growth by margins of pond waters,
Escaped from the life that exhibits itself,
From all the standards 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 I speak for rejoices in comrades,
Here by myself away from the clank of the world.
Tallying and talk'd to here by tongues aromatic
No longer abash'd (for in this secluded spot I can respond
as I would not dare elsewhere.)
Strong upon me the life that does not exhibit itself, yet contains all the rest,
Resolv'd to sing no songs to-day, but those of manly attachment,
Projecting them along that 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 and days,
To celebrate the need of comrades.

2 comments:

X. Dell said...

Between Whitman, Sexton and Blake, you have excellent taste in poets.

Glad to hear that you enjoyed the trip to the parents. I happen to like my parents too.

Devin said...

Love ya X.Dell! Thanks so much for stopping by. I am so very happy to have found The X Spot!
As tired as I am I am in the middle of trying to make pancakes of all things at 930 at night!
I am glad you like your parents-I would be lost without mine and can't even contemplate them not being around! Great new post for the Devil's in the Slide series!