The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 131] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
WHEN I HEARD AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY.
WHEN I heard at the close of the day how my name
had been receiv'd with plaudits in the capitol,
still it was not a happy night for me that fol-
low'd;
had been receiv'd with plaudits in the capitol,
still it was not a happy night for me that fol-
low'd;
And else, when I carous'd, or when my plans were
accomplish'd, still I was not happy;
accomplish'd, still I was not happy;
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of per-
fect health, refresh'd, singing, inhaling the ripe
breath of autumn,
fect health, refresh'd, 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 wander'd 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;
on his way coming, O then I was happy;
O then each breath tasted sweeter—and all that day my
food nourish'd me more—and the beautiful day
pass'd well,
food nourish'd me more—and the beautiful day
pass'd well,
And the next came with equal joy—and with the next,
at evening, came my friend;
at evening, came my friend;
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,
directed to me, whispering, to congratulate me,
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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,
inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast—and that
night I was happy.
night I was happy.