Walt Whitman-- in honor of Labor Day

Working at watering the trees before burning the brushpile below - PL

 

 

I HEAR AMERICA SINGING

by Walt Whitman

 

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.

~~

Typed from The Walt Whitman Reader, c 1993 by Running Press