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Walt Whitman

Picture
I Hear America Singing


I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe
     and strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,  
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off
     work;          
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the 
     deckhand singing on the steamboat deck;         
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench—the hatter singing 
     as he stands;     
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the 
     morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown;        
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work--
     or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;       
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young 
     fellows, robust, friendly,     
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.         



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