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Walt Whitman: Poems

Walt Whitman: Parting Friends


What think you I take my pen in hand to record?

The battle-ship, perfect-modelled, majestic, that I saw pass the offing to-

day under full sail?

The splendours of the past day? Or the splendour of the night that envelops

me?

Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me?--No;

But I record of two simple men I saw to-day, on the pier, in the midst of

the crowd, parting the parting of dear friends;

The one to remain hung on the other's neck, and passionately kissed him,

While the one to depart tightly pressed the one to remain in his arms.