The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 390] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LAST OF EBB, AND DAYLIGHT WANING.
Last of ebb, and daylight waning,
Scented sea-cool landward making, smells of sedge and salt
incoming,
incoming,
With many a half-caught voice sent up from the eddies,
Many a muffled confession—many a sob and whisper'd word,
As of speakers far or hid.
How they sweep down and out! how they mutter!
Poets unnamed—artists greatest of any, with cherish'd lost
designs,
designs,
Love's unresponse—a chorus of age's complaints—hope's last
words,
words,
Some suicide's despairing cry, Away to the boundless waste, and
never again return.
never again return.
On to oblivion then!
On, on, and do your part, ye burying, ebbing tide!
On for your time, ye furious debouché!