The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
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SO LONG!
—————
1
1 To conclude—I announce what comes after me,
I announce mightier offspring, orators, days, and
then depart.
then depart.
2I remember I said, before my leaves sprang at all,
I would raise my voice jocund and strong, with re-
ference to consummations.
ference to consummations.
3When America does what was promis'd,
When there are plentiful athletic bards, inland and
seaboard,
seaboard,
When through These States walk a hundred millions
of superb persons,
of superb persons,
When the rest part away for superb persons, and con-
tribute to them,
tribute to them,
When breeds of the most perfect mothers denote
America,
America,
Then to me my due fruition.
4I have press'd through in my own right,
I have offer'd my style to every one—I have journey'd
with confident step,
with confident step,
While my pleasure is yet at the full, I whisper, So
long!
long!
And take the young woman's hand, and the young
man's hand, for the last time.
man's hand, for the last time.
2
5I announce natural persons to arise,
I announce justice triumphant,
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I announce uncompromising liberty and equality,
I announce the justification of candor, and the justi-
fication of pride.
fication of pride.
6I announce that the identity of These States is a
single identity only,
single identity only,
I announce the Union more and more compact,
I announce splendors and majesties to make all the
previous politics of the earth insignificant.
previous politics of the earth insignificant.
7I announce adhesiveness—I say it shall be limitless,
unloosen'd,
unloosen'd,
I say you shall yet find the friend you was looking
for.
for.
8I announce a man or woman coming—perhaps you
are the one,(So long!)
are the one,(So long!)
I announce the great individual, fluid as Nature, chaste,
affectionate, compassionate, fully armed.
affectionate, compassionate, fully armed.
9I announce a life that shall be copious, vehement,
spiritual, bold,
spiritual, bold,
And I announce an old age that shall lightly and joy-
fully meet its translation.
fully meet its translation.
3
10O thicker and faster! (So long!)
O crowding too close upon me;
I foresee too much—it means more than I thought,
It appears to me I am dying.
11Hasten throat, and sound your last!
Salute me—salute the days once more. Peal the old
cry once more.
cry once more.
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12Screaming electric, the atmosphere using,
At random glancing, each as a notice absorbing,
Swiftly on, but a little while alighting,
Curious envelop'd messages delivering,
Sparkles hot, seed ethereal, down in the dirt dropping,
Myself unknowing, my commission obeying, to ques-
tion it never daring,
tion it never daring,
To ages, and ages yet, the growth of the seed leaving,
To troops out of me rising—they the tasks I have set
promulging,
promulging,
To women certain whispers of myself bequeathing—
their affection me more clearly explaining,
their affection me more clearly explaining,
To young men my problems offering—no dallier I—
I the muscle of their brains trying,
I the muscle of their brains trying,
So I pass—a little time vocal, visible, contrary,
Afterward, a melodious echo, passionately bent for—
(death making me really undying,)
(death making me really undying,)
The best of me then when no longer visible—for to-
ward that I have been incessantly preparing.
ward that I have been incessantly preparing.
13What is there more, that I lag and pause, and
crouch extended with unshut mouth?
crouch extended with unshut mouth?
Is there a single final farewell?
4
14My songs cease—I abandon them,
From behind the screen where I hid, I advance per-
sonally, solely to you.
sonally, solely to you.
15Camerado! This is no book,
Who touches this, touches a man,
(Is it night? Are we here alone?)
It is I you hold, and who holds you,
I spring from the pages into your arms—decease calls
me
me
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16O how your fingers drowse me!
Your breath falls around me like dew—your pulse lulls
the tympans of my ears,
the tympans of my ears,
I feel immerged from head to foot,
Delicious—enough.
17Enough, O deed impromptu and secret!
Enough, O gliding present! Enough, O summ'd-up
past!
past!
5
18Dear friend, whoever you are, here, take this kiss,
I give it especially to you—Do not forget me,
I feel like one who has done his work—I progress on,
—(long enough have I dallied with Life,)
—(long enough have I dallied with Life,)
The unknown sphere, more real than I dream'd, more
direct, darts awakening rays about me—So
long!
direct, darts awakening rays about me—So
long!
Remember my words—I love you—I depart from
materials,
materials,
I am as one disembodied, triumphant, dead.