Published Works

Books by Whitman

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 310] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NATIVE moments! when you come upon me—Ah
you are here now!

Give me now libidinous joys only!

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

To-day, I go consort with nature's darlings—to-night
too,

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 311] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I am for those who believe in loose delights—I share
the midnight orgies of young men,

I dance with the dancers, and drink with the drink-
ers,

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 shall be one
condemned by others for deeds done;

I will play a part no longer—Why should I exile
myself from my companions?

O you shunned persons! I at least do not shun you,

I come forthwith in your midst—I will be your poet,

I will be more to you than to any of the rest.

Distributed under a Creative Commons License. Matt Cohen, Ed Folsom, & Kenneth M. Price, editors.