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Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman
Born on May 31, 1819, Walt Whitman is the author of Leaves of Grass...
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FURTHER READING
Poems about the Self
canvas and mirror
by Evie Shockley
Days of Me
by Stuart Dischell
I Am Not Yours
by Sara Teasdale
I Am!
by John Clare
In Knowledge of Young Boys
by Toi Derricotte
In Whoever's Hotel Room This Is
by Matt Rasmussen
Intimacy
by Paisley Rekdal
Next Day
by Randall Jarrell
Red Bank
by Lesle Lewis
Song of Myself, I, II, VI & LII
by Walt Whitman
The Suicide
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
Untitled [Is is]
by Srikanth Reddy
Your Brain Is Yours
by Natalie Lyalin
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Excelsior

 
by Walt Whitman

Who has gone farthest? for I would go farther,
And who has been just? for I would be the most just person of the earth,
And who most cautious? for I would be more cautious,
And who has been happiest? O I think it is I—I think no one was ever happier than I,
And who has lavish'd all? for I lavish constantly the best I have,
And who proudest? for I think I have reason to be the proudest son alive—for I am the son of      the brawny and tall-topt city,
And who has been bold and true? for I would be the boldest and truest being of the universe,
And who benevolent? for I would show more benevolence than all the rest,
And who has receiv'd the love of the most friends? for I know what it is to receive the passionate      love of many friends,
And who possesses a perfect and enamour'd body? for I do not believe any one possesses a      more perfect or enamour'd body than mine,
And who thinks the amplest thoughts? for I would surround those thoughts,
And who has made hymns fit for the earth? for I am mad with devouring ecstasy to make joyous      hymns for the whole earth.






This poem appeared in Poem-A-Day on July 6, 2013. Browse the Poem-A-Day archive.
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