Liberty in literature; Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892 -- Political and social views
He was absolutely true to himself. He had frankness and courage, and
he was as candid as light. He was willing that all the sons of men
should be absolutely acquainted with his heart and brain. He had
nothing to conceal. Frank, candid, pure, serene, noble, and yet for
years he was maligned and slandered, simply because he had the candor
of nature. He will be understood yet, and that for which he was
condemned--his frankness, his candor--will add to the glory and
greatness of his fame.
He wrote a liturgy for mankind; he wrote a great and splendid psalm of
life, and he gave to us the gospel of humanity--the greatest gospel
that can be preached.
He was not afraid to live; not afraid to die. For many years he and
Death lived near neighbors. He was always willing and ready to meet
and greet this king called Death, and for many months he sat in the
deepening twilight waiting for the night; waiting for the light.
He never lost his hope. When the mists filled the valleys, he looked
upon the mountain tops, and when the mountains in darkness disappeared,
fixed his gaze upon the stars.
In his brain were the blessed memories of the day and in his heart were
mingled the dawn and dusk of life.
He was not afraid; he was cheerful every moment. The laughing nymphs
of day did not desert him. They remained that they might clasp the
hands and greet with smiles the veiled and silent sisters of the night.
And when they did come, Walt Whitman stretched his hand to them. On
one side were the nymphs of day, and on the other the silent sisters of
the night, and so, hand in hand, between smiles and tears, he reached
his journey's end.
From the frontier of life, from the western wave-kissed shore, he sent
us messages of content and hope, and these messages seem now like
strains of music blown by the "Mystic Trumpeter" from Death's pale
realm.
To-day we give back to Mother Nature, to her clasp and kiss, one of the
bravest, sweetest souls that ever lived in human clay.
Charitable as the air and generous as Nature, he was negligent of all
except to do and say what he believed he should do and should say.
And I to-day thank him, not only for you but for myself, for all the
brave words he has uttered. I thank him for all the great and splendid
words he has said in favor of liberty, in favor of man and woman, in
favor of motherhood, in favor of fathers, in favor of children, and I
thank him for the brave words that he has said of death.
He has lived, he has died, and death is less terrible than it was
before. Thousands and millions will walk down into the "dark valley of
the shadow" holding Walt Whitman by the hand. Long after we are dead
the brave words he has spoken will sound like trumpets to the dying.
And so I lay this little wreath upon this great man's tomb. I loved
him living, and I love him still.
A New Book About the Bible.
The Best One of All.......
THE BIBLE
By JOHN E. REMSBURG.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account