“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.

“Song of the Open Road” (4 of 9) by Walt Whitman [w/ Audio]

The earth expanding right hand and left
hand,
The picture alive, every part in its best light,
The music falling in where it is wanted, and
stopping where it is not wanted,
The cheerful voice of the public road, the
gay fresh sentiment of the road.

O highway I travel, do you say to me Do
not leave me?
Do you say Venture not--if you leave me
you are lost?
Do you say I am already prepared, I am
well-beaten and undenied, adhere to me?

O public road, I say back I am not afraid to
leave you, yet I love you,
You express me better than I can express
myself,
You shall be more to me than my poem.

I think heroic deeds were all conceiv'd in the
open air, and all free poems also,
I think I could stop here myself and do
miracles,
I think whatever I shall meet on the road I
shall like, and whoever beholds me shall
like me,
I think whoever I see must be happy.