Nothing New

The great writers, one piece at a time.

Walt Whitman · Leaves of Grass

Poem 160 of 382 · Drum-Taps

Not the Pilot

— ✻ —

Not the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship into port, though beaten back and many times baffled; Not the pathfinder penetrating inland weary and long, By deserts parch’d, snows chill’d, rivers wet, perseveres till he reaches his destination, More than I have charged myself, heeded or unheeded, to compose march for these States, For a battle-call, rousing to arms if need be, years, centuries hence.

Receive Walt Whitman one poem at a time, every morning.
Subscribe →