As Toilsome I Wander'd

Walt Whitman 1819 (West Hills) – 1892 (Camden)




   AS TOILSOME I wander'd Virginia's woods,
   To the music of rustling leaves, kick'd by my feet, (for 'twas
         autumn,)
   I mark'd at the foot of a tree the grave of a soldier,
   Mortally wounded he, and buried on the retreat, (easily all could I
         understand;)
   The halt of a mid-day hour, when up! no time to lose--yet this sign
         left,
   On a tablet scrawl'd and nail'd on the tree by the grave,
   Bold, cautious, true, and my loving comrade.

   Long, long I muse, then on my way go wandering;
   Many a changeful season to follow, and many a scene of life;
   Yet at times through changeful season and scene, abrupt, alone, or in
         the crowded street,                                          10
   Comes before me the unknown soldier's grave--comes the inscription
         rude in Virginia's woods,
   Bold, cautious, true, and my loving comrade.

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 14, 2023

44 sec read
89

Quick analysis:

Scheme axxxxxxxxB xxxxxaB
Closest metre Iambic hexameter
Characters 879
Words 141
Stanzas 2
Stanza Lengths 10, 7

Walt Whitman

Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. more…

All Walt Whitman poems | Walt Whitman Books

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