Walt Whitman – I Hear America Singing [Poem]

I Hear America Singing
Walt Whitman

Today is the Birthday
of Walt Whitman, born 1819

 
 
 
 
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand
       singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as
       he stands,
The wood-cutter’s song, the ploughboy’s on his way in the morning,
       or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work,
       or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day–at night the party of young
       fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.

 
 
This poem is found in Walt Whitman’s Classic book LEAVES OF GRASS
Available as a FREE ebook download (for Kindle, Nook and other formats) from Project Gutenberg.

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