Walt Whitman
@skeetsofgrass.bsky.social
The 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, in order, little by little, over and over.
The earth is swiftly shovelled in .... a minute .. no one moves or speaks .... it is done,
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The earth is swiftly shovelled in .... a minute .. no one moves or speaks .... it is done,
The coffin is lowered and settled .... the whip is laid on the coffin,
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 PM
The coffin is lowered and settled .... the whip is laid on the coffin,
Duly rattles the deathbell .... the gate is passed .... the grave is halted at .... the living alight .... the hearse uncloses,
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Duly rattles the deathbell .... the gate is passed .... the grave is halted at .... the living alight .... the hearse uncloses,
Rapid the trot to the cemetery,
November 10, 2025 at 10:49 AM
Rapid the trot to the cemetery,
The funeral of an old stagedriver .... the cortege mostly drivers.
November 10, 2025 at 8:49 AM
The funeral of an old stagedriver .... the cortege mostly drivers.
A hearse and stages .... other vehicles give place,
November 10, 2025 at 6:49 AM
A hearse and stages .... other vehicles give place,
A gray discouraged sky overhead .... the short last daylight of December,
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 AM
A gray discouraged sky overhead .... the short last daylight of December,
Posh and ice in the river .... half-frozen mud in the streets,
November 10, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Posh and ice in the river .... half-frozen mud in the streets,
Cold dash of waves at the ferrywharf,
November 10, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Cold dash of waves at the ferrywharf,
He that was President was buried, and he that is now President shall surely be buried.
November 9, 2025 at 10:49 PM
He that was President was buried, and he that is now President shall surely be buried.
Slowmoving and black lines creep over the whole earth .... they never cease ..... they are the burial lines,
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Slowmoving and black lines creep over the whole earth .... they never cease ..... they are the burial lines,
I see one building the house that serves him longer than that.
November 9, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I see one building the house that serves him longer than that.
I see one building the house that serves him a few years .... or seventy or eighty years at most;
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I see one building the house that serves him a few years .... or seventy or eighty years at most;
To think others shall be just as eager .. and we quite indifferent.
November 9, 2025 at 2:49 PM
To think others shall be just as eager .. and we quite indifferent.
To think how eager we are in building our houses,
November 9, 2025 at 12:49 PM
To think how eager we are in building our houses,
To think of all these wonders of city and country .. and others taking great interest in them .. and we taking small interest in them.
November 9, 2025 at 10:49 AM
To think of all these wonders of city and country .. and others taking great interest in them .. and we taking small interest in them.
To think that the rivers will come to flow, and the snow fall, and fruits ripen .. and act upon others as upon us now .... yet not act upon us;
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 AM
To think that the rivers will come to flow, and the snow fall, and fruits ripen .. and act upon others as upon us now .... yet not act upon us;
But without eyesight lingers a different living and looks curiously on the corpse.
November 9, 2025 at 6:49 AM
But without eyesight lingers a different living and looks curiously on the corpse.
The living look upon the corpse with their eyesight,
November 9, 2025 at 4:49 AM
The living look upon the corpse with their eyesight,
They are palpable as the living are palpable.
November 9, 2025 at 2:49 AM
They are palpable as the living are palpable.
Then the corpse-limbs stretch on the bed, and the living look upon them,
November 9, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Then the corpse-limbs stretch on the bed, and the living look upon them,
When the breath ceases and the pulse of the heart ceases,
November 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM
When the breath ceases and the pulse of the heart ceases,
When the twitching lips press lightly on the forehead of the dying,
November 8, 2025 at 8:49 PM
When the twitching lips press lightly on the forehead of the dying,
When the faithful hand of the living does not desert the hand of the dying,
November 8, 2025 at 6:49 PM
When the faithful hand of the living does not desert the hand of the dying,
When medicines stand unused on the shelf, and the camphor-smell has pervaded the rooms,
November 8, 2025 at 4:49 PM
When medicines stand unused on the shelf, and the camphor-smell has pervaded the rooms,