#MIDDLEBURY
Song of the Open Road, IV
Walt Whitman
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.
About this poem
“Song of the Open Road, IV” was published in “Leaves of Grass” (David McKay, 1891-92).
About Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, Long Island, N.Y. He worked as a printer, teacher and journalist in New York City throughout his life. Whitman self-published “Leaves of Grass” in 1855, which he continued to revise throughout his life. He died on March 26, 1892.
The Academy of American Poets is a nonprofit, mission-driven organization, whose aim is to make poetry available to a wider audience. Email The Academy at poem-a-day@poets.org.
This poem is in the public domain. Originally published in Poem-a-Day, www.poets.org. Distributed by King Features Syndicate.
