AOM Meditations: Walt Whitman

WHEN I heard at the close of the day

by Walt Whitman

~*~

WHEN I heard at the close of the day how my name 

had been receiv'd with plaudits in the capitol, 

still it was not a happy night for me that 

fol-

low'd; 

And else, when I carous'd, or when my plans were 

accomplish'd, still I was not happy; 

But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of 

perfect health, refresh'd, singing, inhaling the 

ripe breath of autumn,

When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and 

disappear in the morning light, 

When I wander'd alone over the beach, and undress- 

ing, bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and 

saw the sun rise, 

And when I thought how my dear friend, my lover, 

was on his way coming, O then I was happy; 

O then each breath tasted sweeter-and all that day 

my food nourish'd me more-and the beautiful 

day pass'd well, 

And the next came with equal joy-and with the next, 

at evening, came my friend; 

And that night, while all was still, I heard the waters 

roll slowly continually up the shores, 

I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands, as 

directed to me, whispering, to congratulate me, 

For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the 

same cover in the cool night, 

In the stillness, in the autumn moonbeams, his face 

was inclined toward me, 

And his arm lay lightly around my breast-and that 

night I was happy.