The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 133] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Not Heat Flames up and Consumes.
NOT heat flames up and consumes,
Not sea-waves hurry in and out,
Not the air, delicious and dry, the air of the ripe sum-
mer, bears lightly along white down-balls of
myriads of seeds,
mer, bears lightly along white down-balls of
myriads of seeds,
Wafted, sailing gracefully, to drop where they may;
Not these—O none of these, more than the flames of
me, consuming, burning for his love whom I love!
me, consuming, burning for his love whom I love!
O none, more than I, hurrying in and out;
—Does the tide hurry, seeking something, and never
give up? O I the same;
give up? O I the same;
O nor down-balls, nor perfumes, nor the high, rain-
emitting clouds, are borne through the open air,
emitting clouds, are borne through the open air,
Any more than my Soul is borne through the open
air,
air,
Wafted in all directions, O love, for friendship, for
you.
you.