The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 410] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ON, ON THE SAME, YE JOCUND TWAIN!
ON, on the same, ye jocund twain!
My life and recitative, containing birth, youth, mid-age years,
Fitful as motley-tongues of flame, inseparably twined and merged
in one—combining all,
in one—combining all,
My single soul—aims, confirmations, failures, joys—Nor single
soul alone,
soul alone,
I chant my nation's crucial stage, (America's, haply humanity's)
—the trial great, the victory great,
—the trial great, the victory great,
A strange eclaircissement of all the masses past, the eastern
world, the ancient, medieval,
world, the ancient, medieval,
Here, here from wanderings, strayings, lessons, wars, defeats—
here at the west a voice triumphant—justifying all,
here at the west a voice triumphant—justifying all,
A gladsome pealing cry—a song for once of utmost pride and
satisfaction;
satisfaction;
I chant from it the common bulk, the general average horde,
(the best no sooner than the worst)—And now I chant old
age,
(the best no sooner than the worst)—And now I chant old
age,
(My verses, written first for forenoon life, and for the summer's,
autumn's spread,
autumn's spread,
I pass to snow-white hairs the same, and give to pulses winter-
cool'd the same;)
cool'd the same;)
As here in careless trill, I and my recitatives, with faith and
love,
love,
Wafting to other work, to unknown songs, conditions,
On, on, ye jocund twain! continue on the same!