Published Works

Books by Whitman

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 399] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

WHILE NOT THE PAST FORGETTING.

While not the past forgetting,

To-day, at least, contention sunk entire—peace, brotherhood up-
risen;

For sign reciprocal our Northern, Southern hands,

Lay on the graves of all dead soldiers, North or South,

(Nor for the past alone—for meanings to the future,)

Wreaths of roses and branches of palm.

*Publish'd May 30, 1888.

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