The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
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11.
WHEN I heard at the close of the day how my name
had been received with plaudits in the capitol,
still it was not a happy night for me that fol-
lowed;
had been received with plaudits in the capitol,
still it was not a happy night for me that fol-
lowed;
And else, when I caroused, or when my plans were
accomplished, still I was not happy;
accomplished, still I was not happy;
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of
perfect health, refreshed, singing, inhaling the
ripe breath of autumn,
perfect health, refreshed, singing, inhaling the
ripe breath of autumn,
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and
disappear in the morning light,
disappear in the morning light,
When I wandered alone over the beach, and, undress-
ing, bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and
saw the sun rise,
ing, bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and
saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend, my lover,
was on his way coming, O then I was happy;
was on his way coming, O then I was happy;
O then each breath tasted sweeter—and all that day
my food nourished me more—And the beautiful
day passed well,
my food nourished me more—And the beautiful
day passed well,
And the next came with equal joy—And with the
next, at evening, came my friend;
next, at evening, came my friend;
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And that night, while all was still, I heard the waters
roll slowly continually up the shores,
roll slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands,
as directed to me, whispering, to congratulate
me,
as directed to me, whispering, to congratulate
me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the
same cover in the cool night,
same cover in the cool night,
In the stillness, in the autumn moonbeams, his face
was inclined toward me,
was inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast—And that
night I was happy.
night I was happy.