Published Works

Books by Whitman

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 265] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

BEAT! BEAT! DRUMS!

BEAT! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow!

Through the windows—through doors—burst like a
ruthless force,

Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation;

Into the school where the scholar is studying;

Leave not the bridegroom quiet—no happiness must he
have now with his bride;

Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, plowing his field or
gathering his grain;

So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums—so shrill you
bugles blow.

Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow!

Over the traffic of cities—over the rumble of wheels in
the streets:

Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses?
No sleepers must sleep in those beds;

No bargainers' bargains by day—no brokers or specu-
lators—Would they continue?

Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt
to sing?

Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case be-
fore the judge?

Then rattle quicker, heavier drums—you bugles wilder
blow.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 266] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Beat! beat! drums!—Blow! bugles! blow!

Make no parley—stop for no expostulation;

Mind not the timid—mind not the weeper or prayer;

Mind not the old man beseeching the young man;

Let not the child's voice be heard, nor the mother's en-
treaties;

Make even the trestles to shake the dead, where they
lie awaiting the hearses,

So strong you thump, O terrible drums—so loud you
bugles blow.

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