Leaves of Grass First and Death-Bed Editions (99 page)

 

Pioneers! O Pioneers!,
p. 382: First appearing in
Drum-Taps
(1865), the poem also appeared in the “Drum-Taps” annex of
Leaves of Grass
(1867). It was included in a cluster entitled “Marches Now the War Is Over” in 1871 and 1876, and took its final form in 1881.

 

 

To You,
p. 387: First appearing in the 1856 edition as “Poem of You, Whoever You Are,” this poem became “To You Whoever You Are” in 1860, and “Leaves of Grass. 4” in 1867. In 1871 it achieved its present title.

 

France, The 18
^th
Year of These States,
p. 389: The poem first appeared in the 1860 edition of Leaves
of
Grass, under its current title.

 

 

Myself and Mine,
p. 390: “Leaves of Grass. 10” in 1860 and ”Leaves of Grass. 2” in 1867, the poem gained its present title in 1871.

 

Year of Meteors
(1859-60), p. 392: First appearing in
Drum-Taps
(1865), this poem was moved to a “Leaves of Grass” cluster in 1871 and finally included in the “Birds of Passage” cluster in 1881.

 

With Antecedents,
p. 393: First published in the
New York Saturday Press
of January 14, 1860, as “You and Me and To-Day,” this poem was included in the 1860 edition as “Chants Democratic. 7.” It gained its present title in 1867.

A Broadway Pageant,
p. 395: First published in the
New York Times
of June 27, 1860, as “The Errand-Bearers,” the poem was included in
Drum-Taps
(1865) as “A Broadway Pageant (Reception Japanese Embassy, June 16, 1860)”; in 1870 it was retitled “Broadway Pageant. Reception Japanese Embassy, June, 1860.” It gained its current title in 1871. Stanza numbers were included in 1865, section numbers in 1871.

 

Sea-Drift,
p. 400: This cluster of eleven poems was new to the 1881 edition. It absorbed the “Sea-Shore Memories” cluster of
Passage to India
(1871), plus two new poems and two transferred poems.

 

Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking,
p. 400: The poem was first published as “A Child’s Reminiscence” in the New York
Saturday Press
on Christmas Eve 1859. For the 1860 edition of
Leaves of Grass,
Whitman heavily revised the poem and retitled it “A Word Out the Sea.” The present title was first seen in
Passage to India
(1871), and the poem took its final form by 1881.

 

As I Ebb’d with the Ocean of Life,
p. 406: In April 1860 this poem was published in the
Atlantic Monthly
under the title “Bardic Symbols.” It became “Leaves of Grass. 1” in 1860 and ”Elemental Drifts“ for the 1867 edition, and gained its current title in 1881.

 

Tears,
p. 409: Originally appearing as “Leaves of Grass. 2” in 1867, the poem gained its current title in
Passage
to India (1871).

 

To the Man-of-War-Bird,
p. 410: The poem was first published in the
London Athenaeum
on April 1, 1876. One of six poems that were intercalations in copies of the 1876
Leaves of Grass
“Author’s Edition, with Portraits and Intercalations” (along with “As in a Swoon,” “The Beauty of the Ship,” “When the Full-grown Poet Came,” “After an Interval,” and “From Far Dakota’s Canons”). It appeared in its final form in the 1881 edition.

 

Aboard at a Ship’s Helm,
p. 411: “Leaves of Grass. 3” in 1867, the poem received its current title in
Passage to India
(1871). It was first included in
Leaves of Grass
in 1881.

On the Beach at Night,
p. 411: First included under the current title in
Passage to India
(1871), the poem became part of the “Sea-Drift” cluster in
Leaves of Grass
of 1881.

 

The World below the Brine,
p. 412: “Leaves of Grass. 16” in 1860 and ”Leaves of Grass. 4” in 1867, the poem first appeared under its present title in
Passage to India
(1871). Whitman moved it to
Leaves of Grass
in 1881.

 

 

On the Beach at Night Alone,
p. 413: In 1856 this poem appeared as a much longer version entitled “15—Clef Poem.” More than twenty lines were omitted when it was shaped into “Leaves of Grass. 12” in 1860, and it was further truncated when it appeared as “Leaves of Grass. 1” in 1867. It assumed its present title in
Passage to India
(1871) and was included again in
Leaves of Grass
of 1881.

 

Song for All Seas, All Ships,
p. 414: The poem was first published in the
New York Daily Graphic
on April 4, 1873. Along with “Song of the Redwood-Tree,” “Song of the Universal,” and “Song of the Exposition,” it was published in “Centennial Songs,” a separately published cluster annexed to
Two Rivulets
(1876). It appeared in the “Sea-Drift” section of
Leaves of Grass
in 1881.

 

Patroling Barnegat,
p. 415: This poem was first included in
Leaves of Grass
of 1881, though it appeared previously in
The American
of June 1880.

 

After the Sea-Ship,
p. 415: First published in the
New York Daily Graphic
of December 1874 as “In the Wake Following,” this poem gained its present title in
Two Rivulets
(1876). In 1881 it became part of the “Sea-Drift” series in
Leaves of Grass.

 

By the Roadside,
p. 417: Whitman devised this title for a cluster of old and new poems in 1881. He wrote the twenty-nine poems at various stages of his journey “down life’s road” (hence, perhaps, the title); “A Boston Ballad” was among the first poems Whitman published, while three others were written for the 1881 edition of
Leaves of Grass.

A Boston Ballad
(1854), p. 417: See note to “[A Boston Ballad],” p.417.

 

 

Europe, The 72d and 73d Years of These States,
p. 419: See note to “[Europe, The 72d and 73d Years of These States],” p. 419.

 

A Hand-Mirror,
p. 421: This poem’s title and format remained unchanged from its first appearance in the 1860 edition of
Leaves of Grass.

 

 

Gods, p. 421: First published in
Passage to India
(1871), “Gods” also appeared in
Leaves of Grass
(1876).

 

Germs,
p. 422: Titled “Leaves of Grass. 19” in 1860 and ”Leaves of

Grass. 2” in 1867, the poem was titled “Germs” in 1871.

 

Thoughts,
p. 422: In the 1860 edition of
Leaves of Grass,
Whitman published a series of seven poems called “Thoughts.” This 1881 poem starts with the first line from “Thoughts. 4” and the last four lines of “Thoughts. 2.” Other poems with this title (including three more in “By the Roadside”) were similarly pulled together—as fluidly and spontaneously, one might say, as thoughts themselves.

 

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer,
p. 423: First included in
Drum-Taps
(1865), this poem was part of the “Songs of Parting” cluster in
Leaves of Grass
of 1871 and 1876. It became part of “By the Roadside” in 1881.

 

 

Perfections,
p. 423: First appearing in
Leaves of Grass
(1860), this poem was reprinted in all subsequent editions without revisions.

 

O Me! O Life!,
p. 423: This question-answer poem was first included in
Sequel to Drum-Taps
(1865-1866). It was included in
Leaves of Grass
(1881) with very minor revisions.

 

To a President,
p. 424: First printed in the 1860 edition of
Leaves of
Grass, the poem was originally addressed to James Buchanan, Lincoln’s predecessor. The poem was not included in
Drum-Taps
or
Sequel to Drum-Taps
(collections inspired by Lincoln and the Civil War) but reappeared in the 1867 and 1871 editions of
Leaves of
Grass.

 

 

I Sit and Look Out,
p. 424: “Leaves of Grass. 17” in 1860, ”Leaves of Grass. 5” in 1867, the poem gained its present title in the 1871 edition of
Leaves of Grass.

 

To Rich Givers,
p. 425: Appearing under this title in 1860, the poem was included with minor revisions in 1867, 1871, and 1876, and achieved its final form in 1881.

 

 

The Dalliance of the Eagles,
p. 425: New to
Leaves of Grass
in 1881, this poem was published a year earlier in the magazine
Cope’s Tobacco Plant.

 

 

Roaming in Thought,
p. 426: A new poem in the 1881 edition of
Leaves of Grass,
the poem remained unrevised through Whitman’s lifetime.

 

 

A Farm Picture,
p. 426: The poem first appeared under the present title, but without the third line, in
Drum-Taps
(1865). The final line was added for the 1871 edition of
Leaves of Grass.

 

A Child’s Amaze,
p. 426: The poem first appeared with its present title in
Drum-Taps
(1865).

 

The Runner,
p. 426: The poem first appeared in
Leaves of Grass
in 1867 and was included in all subsequent editions.

 

Beautiful Women,
p. 427: Originally part of the “Debris” cluster, a series of seventeen untitled poems published in the 1860 edition of
Leaves of Grass,
the poem was entitled “Picture” in 1867 and gained its current title in 1871.

 

Mother and Babe,
p. 427: First published under its current title in
Drum-Taps
(1865), the poem remained ungrouped until it was included in “By the Roadside” in 1881.

Thought,
p. 427: The seventh of the “Thoughts” poem series of 1860, this poem gained its current “singular” title in 1871.

 

Visor‘d,
p. 427: Part of the “Debris” cluster in 1860, these lines gained their present title in 1867.

 

Thought,
p. 427: Originally part of “Thoughts. 4” in the 1860 edition of
Leaves of Grass,
these lines gained their current title in 1871.

 

Gliding o‘er All,
p. 428: This poem originally appeared untitled and italicized, on the title page of
Passage to India
(1871). It gained its current title in the 1872 edition.

 

Hast Never Come to Thee an Hour,
p. 428: This poem first appeared in the 1881 edition of
Leaves of Grass.

 

Thought,
p. 428: A single line of “Thoughts. 4” in 1860, the poem received its current title in the 1871 edition of
Leaves of Grass.

 

To Old Age,
p. 428: First appearing under this title in 1860, the poem was also published in 1867, 1871, 1872, and 1876 before being moved to the “By the Roadside” cluster in 1881.

 

Locations and Times,
p. 428: Originally part of “Sun-down Poem” (the 1856 version of “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry”), this poem became “Leaves of Grass. 23” in 1860 and ”Leaves of Grass. 5” in 1867. It gained its current title in 1871.

 

Offerings,
p. 429: Originally part of the “Debris” cluster of the 1860 edition of
Leaves of Grass,
this poem was titled “Picture” in 1867 and received its present title in 1871.

 

To the States, To Identify the 16
^th
, 17
^th
, or 18
^th
Presidentiad,
p. 429: This poem was first published under its current title in 1860 and was placed in all subsequent editions.

 

Drum-Taps,
p. 430: This 1881 collection of forty-three poems gathers thirty-eight of its works from either
Drum-Taps
(1865) or
Sequel to Drum-Taps
(1865-1866). Only five of the poems were from other collections: “Virginia—The West,” “Not the Pilot,” “Ethiopia Saluting the Colors,” “Delicate Cluster,” and “Adieu to a Soldier.”

 

First O Songs for a Prelude,
p. 430: This poem was originally entitled “Drum Taps” in 1865, taking its first line for its title in 1881. Four lines beginning “Aroused and angry” were placed at the beginning of the poem in 1871 and 1876; these lines were eventually moved to “The Wound-Dresser,” another
Drum-Taps
poem.

 

Eighteen Sixty-One, p. 432: In Drum-Taps,
the poem was titled “1861.” It gained its present title in the 1881 edition of
Leaves of Grass.

 

Beat! Beat! Drums!,
p. 433: Under this title, the poem was originally published in two periodicals
(Harper’s Weekly
and the
New York Leader)
on September 28, 1861. It was included in
Drum-Taps
(1865).

 

From Paumanok Starting
I
Fly like a Bird,
p. 434: The poem has maintained this title since its first appearance in
Drum-Taps
(1865).

 

Song of the Banner at Daybreak,
P. 435: The poem was published under this title in
Drum-Taps
(1865).

 

Rise O Days from Your Fathomless Deeps,
p. 441: The poem’s title remains the same as in 1865. It became part of the “Drum-Taps” annex in the 1867 edition of
Leaves of Grass,
and the “Drum-Taps” clusters of 1871 and 1881.

 

Virginia—The West,
p. 444: First published in the
Kansas Magazine
of March 1872, the poem was part of
As a Strong Bird on Pinions
Free, an 1872 collection that was integrated into the 1881 edition of
Leaves of Grass as
“Thy Mother with Thy Equal Brood.” Whitman moved “Virginia—The West” to “Drum-Taps” in this edition.