THE SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD
(excerpts)
by Walt Whitman
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road
Healthy, free, the world before me
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
All seems beautiful to me
I can repeat over to men and women
You have done such good to me
I would
do the same to you
I will scatter myself among men and women as I go
I will toss a new gladness and roughness among them
Whoever denies me it shall not trouble me
Whoever accepts me he or she shall be blessed and shall bless me...
Now understand me well
it is provided in the essence of things
that
from any fruition of success
shall come forth something
to make a greater
struggle necessary.
My call is the call of battle
I nourish active rebellion
He going with me must go well armed
He going with me goes often with spare diet, poverty,
angry enemies, desertions...
Camerado, I give you my hand...
Will you come travel with me?
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