The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 415] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A CHRISTMAS GREETING.
From a Northern Star-Group to a Southern. 1889-'90.
WELCOME, Brazilian brother—thy ample place is ready;
A loving hand—a smile from the north—a sunny instant hail!
(Let the future care for itself, where it reveals its troubles, im-
pedimentas,
pedimentas,
Ours, ours the present throe, the democratic aim, the acceptance
and the faith;)
and the faith;)
To thee to-day our reaching arm, our turning neck—to thee
from us the expectant eye,
from us the expectant eye,
Thou cluster free! thou brilliant lustrous one! thou, learning well,
The true lesson of a nation's light in the sky,
(More shining than the Cross, more than the Crown,)
The height to be superb humanity.