The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - [begin page 102] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
RECORDERS AGES HENCE.
RECORDERS ages hence,
Come, I will take you down underneath this impassive exterior, I
will tell you what to say of me,
will tell you what to say of me,
Publish my name and hang up my picture as that of the tenderest
lover,
lover,
The friend the lover's portrait, of whom his friend his lover was
fondest,
fondest,
Who was not proud of his songs, but of the measureless ocean of
love within him, and freely pour'd it forth,
love within him, and freely pour'd it forth,
Who often walk'd lonesome walks thinking of his dear friends, his
lovers,
lovers,
Who pensive away from one he lov'd often lay sleepless and dissat-
isfied at night,
isfied at night,
Who knew too well the sick, sick dread lest the one he lov'd
might secretly be indifferent to him,
might secretly be indifferent to him,
Whose happiest days were far away through fields, in woods, on
hills, he and another wandering hand in hand, they twain
apart from other men,
hills, he and another wandering hand in hand, they twain
apart from other men,
Who oft as he saunter'd the streets curv'd with his arm the shoul-
der of his friend, while the arm of his friend rested upon
him also.
der of his friend, while the arm of his friend rested upon
him also.