Poem by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass. 24. Autumn Rivulets. 23. To a Pupil

Is reform needed? is it through you?
The greater the reform needed, the greater the Personality you need
      to accomplish it.

You! do you not see how it would serve to have eyes, blood,
      complexion, clean and sweet?
Do you not see how it would serve to have such a body and soul that
      when you enter the crowd an atmosphere of desire and command
      enters with you, and every one is impress'd with your Personality?

O the magnet! the flesh over and over!
Go, dear friend, if need be give up all else, and commence to-day to
      inure yourself to pluck, reality, self-esteem, definiteness,
      elevatedness,
Rest not till you rivet and publish yourself of your own Personality.

1. Leaves of Grass. 21. Drum-Taps. 35. How Solemn As One by One [Washington City, 1865]
2. Leaves of Grass. 30. Whispers of Heavenly Death. 5. Yet, Yet, Ye Downcast Hours
3. Leaves of Grass. 35. Good-Bye My Fancy. 7. The Pallid Wreath
4. Leaves of Grass. 32. From Noon to Starry Night. 9. Excelsior
5. Leaves of Grass. 34. Sands at Seventy. 11. The Wallabout Martyrs

Print

1375 Views

Last Poems

To Russian version