DAILY PHOTO: Buddha Park, Vientiane

“Song of the Open Road” (11 of 15) by Walt Whitman [w/ Audio]

Listen! I will be honest with you,
I do not offer the old smooth prizes, but
offer rough new prizes,
These are the days that must happen to you:
You shall not heap up what is call'd riches,
You shall scatter with lavish hand all that
you earn or achieve,
You but arrive at the city to which you were
destin'd, you hardly settle yourself to
satisfaction before you are call'd by an
irresistible call to depart,
You shall be treated to the ironical smiles
and mockings of those who remain
behind you,
What beckonings of love you receive you
shall only answer with passionate kisses of
parting,
You shall not allow the hold of those who
spread their reach'd hands toward you.

DAILY PHOTO: Lake Reflections

“Song of the Open Road” (10 of 15) by Walt Whitman [w/ Audio]

Allons! the inducements shall be greater,
We will sail pathless and wild seas,
We will go where winds blow, waves dash,
and the Yankee clipper speeds by under
full sail.

Allons! with power, liberty, the earth, the
elements,
Health, defiance, gayety, self-esteem,
curiosity;
Allons! from all formules!
From your formules, O bat-eyed and
materialistic priests.

The stale cadaver blocks up the passage--
the burial waits no longer.

Allons! yet take warning!
He traveling with me needs the best blood,
thews, endurance,
None may come to the trial till he or she
bring courage and health,
Come not here if you have already spent the
best of yourself,
Only those may come who come in sweet
and determin'd bodies,
No diseas'd person, no rum-drinker or
venereal taint is permitted here.

(I and mine do not convince by arguments,
similes, rhymes,
We convince by our presence.)

DAILY PHOTO: Nam Dee Waterfall, Luang Namtha

“Song of the Open Road” (9 of 15) by Walt Whitman [w/ Audio]

Allons! whoever you are come travel with
me!
Traveling with me you find what never tires.

The earth never tires,
The earth is rude, silent, incomprehensible
at first, Nature is rude and
incomprehensible at first,
Be not discouraged, keep on, there are
divine things well envelop'd,
I swear to you there are divine things more
beautiful than words can tell.

Allons! we must not stop here,
However sweet these laid-up stores, however
convenient this dwelling we cannot
remain here,
However shelter'd this port and however
calm these waters we must not anchor
here,
However welcome the hospitality that
surrounds us we are permitted to receive
it but a little while.

DAILY PHOTO: Chua Phat Tich Temple, Vientiane

“Song of the Open Road” (8 of 15) by Walt Whitman [w/ Audio]

The efflux of the soul is happiness, here is
happiness,
I think it pervades the open air, waiting at
all times,
Now it flows unto us, we are rightly
charged.

Here rises the fluid and attaching character,
The fluid and attaching character is the
freshness and sweetness of man and
woman,
(The herbs of the morning sprout no fresher
and sweeter every day out of the roots of
themselves, than it sprouts fresh and
sweet continually out of itself.)

Toward the fluid and attaching character
exudes the sweat of the love of young and
old,
From it falls distill'd the charm that mocks
beauty and attainments,
Toward it heaves the shuddering longing
ache of contact.

DAILY PHOTO: Wat That Phoun, Vientiane

“Song of the Open Road” (7 of 15) by Walt Whitman [w/ Audio]

Here is the efflux of the soul,
The efflux of the soul comes from within
through embower'd gates, ever provoking
questions,
These yearnings why are they? these
thoughts in the darkness why are they?
Why are there men and women that while
they are nigh me the sunlight expands my
blood?
Why when they leave me do my pennants
of joy sink flat and lank?
Why are there trees I never walk under but
large and melodious thoughts descend
upon me?
(I think they hang there winter and summer
on those trees and always drop fruit as I
pass;)
What is it I interchange so suddenly with
strangers?
What with some driver as I ride on the seat
by his side?
What with some fisherman drawing his
seine by the shore as I walk by and pause?
What gives me to be free to a woman's and
man's good-will? what gives them to be
free to mine?