Independence Day poem, July 4, 2013

On the (physical)  poetry post in the garden, for the last three years, I have posted a special 4th of July poem.  This year I will post it here as well.  It's an oldie, but still a goodie.


I Hear America Singing


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 the 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 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.


---- Walt Whitman (from Leaves of Grass,

first published in the 1867 edition)



Remember what it took to build this nation, and all the nations that were here that were subsumed.   Let's continue to build

PEACE
for the tree and stone
for the grass and the leaves,
the children and brook
the people and the river
the earth and all her children
all   the people of the rainbow
praying for 
peace.