Adieu To A Solider
ADIEU,
O
soldier!
You
of
the
rude
campaigning,
(which
we
shared,)
The
rapid
march,
the
life
of
the
camp,
The
hot
contention
of
opposing
fronts—the
long
maneuver,
Red
battles
with
their
slaughter,—the
stimulus—the
strong,
terrific
game,
Spell
of
all
brave
and
manly
hearts—the
trains
of
Time
through
you,
and
like
of
you,
all
fill'd,
With
war,
and
war's
expression.
Adieu,
dear
comrade!
Your
mission
is
fulfill'd—but
I,
more
warlike,
Myself,
and
this
contentious
soul
of
mine,
Still
on
our
own
campaigning
bound,
Through
untried
roads,
with
ambushes,
opponents
lined,
Through
many
a
sharp
defeat
and
many
a
crisis—often
baffled,
Here
marching,
ever
marching
on,
a
war
fight
out—aye
here,
To
fiercer,
weightier
battles
give
expression.
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, (born May 31, 1819, West Hills, Long Island, New York, U.S.—died March 26, 1892, Camden, New Jersey), American poet, journalist, and essayist whose verse collection Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855, is a landmark in the history of American literature. Walt Whitman’s poetry was innovative for its verse style and for the way it challenged traditional narratives. He championed the individual soul over social conventions, presenting himself as a rough and free spirit. His poetry has continued to resonate with new generations of Americans, and he is considered a symbol of American democracy.