The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 207] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I HEAR AMERICA SINGING.
I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should
be, blithe and strong;
be, blithe and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or
beam,
beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or
leaves off work;
leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—
the deck-hand singing on the steamboat deck;
the deck-hand singing on the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the
hatter singing as he stands;
hatter singing as he stands;
The wood-cutter's song—the ploughboy's, on his way in
the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at
sundown;
the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at
sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young
wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—
Each singing what belongs to her, and to none
else;
wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—
Each singing what belongs to her, and to none
else;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party
of young fellows, robust, friendly,
of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious
songs.
songs.