Whitman, as Printed

‹ Leaves of Grass, 1891–92

The lines with “we”

we 335 Back to W

  1. p. 10, line 15The sky o'erarches here, we feel the undulating deck beneath our feet,
  2. p. 10, line 16We feel the long pulsation, ebb and flow of endless motion,
  3. p. 12, line 19We seeming solid wealth, strength, beauty build,
  4. p. 15, line 11ON journeys through the States we start,
  5. p. 15, line 14We willing learners of all, teachers of all, and lovers of all.
  6. p. 15, line 15We have watch'd the seasons dispensing themselves and passing on,
  7. p. 15, line 17We dwell a while in every city and town,
  8. p. 15, line 18We pass through Kanada, the North-east, the vast valley of the Mississippi, and the Southern States,
  9. p. 15, line 19We confer on equal terms with each of the States,
  10. p. 15, line 20We make trial of ourselves and invite men and women to hear,
  11. p. 15, line 21We say to ourselves, Remember, fear not, be candid, promulge the body and the soul,
  12. p. 16, line 17Thither we also, I with my leaves and songs, trustful, admirant,
  13. p. 23, line 16Living beings, identities now doubtless near us in the air that we know not of,
  14. p. 31, line 6I and this mystery here we stand.
  15. p. 32, line 19I mind how once we lay such a transparent summer morning,
  16. p. 33, line 8Bearing the owner's name someway in the corners, that we may see and remark, and say Whose?
  17. p. 45, line 22We have had ducking and deprecating about enough,
  18. p. 46, line 17We must have a turn together, I undress, hurry me out of sight of the land,
  19. p. 50, line 10We also ascend dazzling and tremendous as the sun,
  20. p. 50, line 11We found our own O my soul in the calm and cool of the day-break.
  21. p. 52, line 3And that we call Being.
  22. p. 52, line 5(Round and round we go, all of us, and ever come back thither,)
  23. p. 53, line 24And until one and all shall delight us, and we them.
  24. p. 55, line 11His well-built limbs tremble with pleasure as we race around and return.
  25. p. 59, line 2We sail the arctic sea, it is plenty light enough,
  26. p. 59, line 6We are approaching some great battle-field in which we are soon to be engaged,
  27. p. 59, line 7We pass the colossal outposts of the encampment, we pass with still feet and caution,
  28. p. 59, line 8Or we are entering by the suburbs some vast and ruin'd city,
  29. p. 59, line 19And chalk'd in large letters on a board, Be of good cheer, we will not desert you;
  30. p. 62, line 13We closed with him, the yards entangled, the cannon touch'd,
  31. p. 62, line 15We had receiv'd some eighteen pound shots under the water,
  32. p. 62, line 23The other asks if we demand quarter?
  33. p. 62, line 26We have not struck, he composedly cries, we have just begun our part of the fighting.
  34. p. 63, line 8One of the pumps has been shot away, it is generally thought we are sinking.
  35. p. 63, line 15Our vessel riddled and slowly sinking, preparations to pass to the one we have conquer'd,
  36. p. 65, line 6Inland and sea-coast we go, and pass all boundary lines,
  37. p. 65, line 8The blossoms we wear in our hats the growth of thousands of years.
  38. p. 68, line 16Ever the vexer's hoot! hoot! till we find where the sly one hides and bring him forth,
  39. p. 71, line 7We have thus far exhausted trillions of winters and summers,
  40. p. 73, line 6We should surely bring up again where we now stand,
  41. p. 74, line 2Wonderful cities and free nations we shall fetch as we go.
  42. p. 74, line 5For after we start we never lie by again.
  43. p. 74, line 7And I said to my spirit When we become the enfolders of those orbs, and the pleasure and knowledge of every thing in them, shall we be fill'd and satisfied then?
  44. p. 74, line 8And my spirit said No, we but level that lift to pass and continue beyond.
  45. p. 80, line 21Two hawks in the air, two fishes swimming in the sea not more lawless than we;)
  46. p. 80, line 27What is all else to us? only that we enjoy each other and exhaust each other if it must be so;)
  47. p. 82, line 6The sprawl and fulness of babes, the bosoms and heads of women, the folds of their dress, their style as we pass in the street, the contour of their shape downwards,
  48. p. 89, line 28The real poems, (what we call poems being merely pictures,)
  49. p. 92, line 17Now we have met, we have look'd, we are safe,
  50. p. 92, line 19I too am part of that ocean my love, we are not so much separated,
  51. p. 93, line 1WE two, how long we were fool'd,
  52. p. 93, line 2Now transmuted, we swiftly escape as Nature escapes,
  53. p. 93, line 3We are Nature, long have we been absent, but now we return,
  54. p. 93, line 4We become plants, trunks, foliage, roots, bark,
  55. p. 93, line 5We are bedded in the ground, we are rocks,
  56. p. 93, line 6We are oaks, we grow in the openings side by side,
  57. p. 93, line 7We browse, we are two among the wild herds spontaneous as any,
  58. p. 93, line 8We are two fishes swimming in the sea together,
  59. p. 93, line 9We are what locust blossoms are, we drop scent around lanes mornings and evenings,
  60. p. 93, line 10We are also the coarse smut of beasts, vegetables, minerals,
  61. p. 93, line 11We are two predatory hawks, we soar above and look down,
  62. p. 93, line 12We are two resplendent suns, we it is who balance ourselves orbic and stellar, we are as two comets,
  63. p. 93, line 13We prowl fang'd and four-footed in the woods, we spring on prey,
  64. p. 93, line 14We are two clouds forenoons and afternoons driving overhead,
  65. p. 93, line 15We are seas mingling, we are two of those cheerful waves rolling over each other and interwetting each other,
  66. p. 93, line 16We are what the atmosphere is, transparent, receptive, pervious, impervious,
  67. p. 93, line 17We are snow, rain, cold, darkness, we are each product and influence of the globe,
  68. p. 93, line 18We have circled and circled till we have arrived home again, we two,
  69. p. 93, line 19We have voided all but freedom and all but our own joy.
  70. p. 94, line 15Day by day and night by night we were together—all else has long been forgotten by me,
  71. p. 94, line 17Again we wander, we love, we separate again,
  72. p. 101, line 2Of the uncertainty after all, that we may be deluded,
  73. p. 105, line 19We observe that salute of American comrades land and sea,
  74. p. 105, line 20We are those two natural and nonchalant persons.
  75. p. 106, line 12All is recall'd as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,
  76. p. 106, line 15You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass, you take of my beard, breast, hands, in return,
  77. p. 106, line 24O I know we should be brethren and lovers,
  78. p. 108, line 1WE two boys together clinging,
  79. p. 109, line 5There we two, content, happy in being together, speaking little, perhaps not a word.
  80. p. 124, line 23Now it flows unto us, we are rightly charged.
  81. p. 125, line 10Allons! we must not stop here,
  82. p. 125, line 11However sweet these laid-up stores, however convenient this dwelling we cannot remain here,
  83. p. 125, line 12However shelter'd this port and however calm these waters we must not anchor here,
  84. p. 125, line 13However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted to receive it but a little while.
  85. p. 125, line 15We will sail pathless and wild seas,
  86. p. 125, line 16We will go where winds blow, waves dash, and the Yankee clipper speeds by under full sail.
  87. p. 126, line 2We convince by our presence.)
  88. p. 129, line 9Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?
  89. p. 132, line 18The same old role, the role that is what we make it, as great as we like,
  90. p. 132, line 19Or as small as we like, or both great and small.
  91. p. 133, line 4We understand then do we not?
  92. p. 134, line 8We receive you with free sense at last, and are insatiate henceforward,
  93. p. 134, line 10We use you, and do not cast you aside—we plant you permanently within us,
  94. p. 134, line 11We fathom you not—we love you—there is perfection in you also,
  95. p. 145, line 15Again I spring up the rigging to look with the rest—we descend, wild with excitement,
  96. p. 145, line 16I leap in the lower'd boat, we row toward our prey where he lies,
  97. p. 145, line 17We approach stealthy and silent, I see the mountainous mass, lethargic, basking,
  98. p. 145, line 20Again I see him rise to breathe, we row close again,
  99. p. 145, line 22Again we back off, I see him settle again, the life is leaving him fast,
  100. p. 160, line 8We do not blame thee elder World, nor really separate ourselves from thee,
  101. p. 160, line 11We build to ours to-day.
  102. p. 160, line 16We plan even now to raise, beyond them all,
  103. p. 164, line 24We dedicate, dread Mother, all to thee!
  104. p. 164, line 26For well we know that while thou givest each and all, (generous as God,)
  105. p. 165, line 14None separate from thee—henceforth One only, we and thou,
  106. p. 165, line 17While we rehearse our measureless wealth, it is for thee, dear Mother,
  107. p. 165, line 18We own it all and several to-day indissoluble in thee;
  108. p. 165, line 20Our farms, inventions, crops, we own in thee! cities and States in thee!
  109. p. 166, line 28Nor yield we mournfully majestic brothers,
  110. p. 166, line 29We who have grandly fill'd our time;
  111. p. 166, line 31We welcome what we wrought for through the past,
  112. p. 167, line 3For them we abdicate, in them ourselves ye forest kings!
  113. p. 167, line 17You promis'd long, we pledge, we dedicate.
  114. p. 167, line 28We pledge, we dedicate to you.
  115. p. 171, line 16The apple-shaped earth and we upon it, surely the drift of them is something grand,
  116. p. 172, line 9Old institutions, these arts, libraries, legends, collections, and the practice handed along in manufactures, will we rate them so high?
  117. p. 172, line 10Will we rate our cash and business high? I have no objection,
  118. p. 172, line 12We thought our Union grand, and our Constitution grand,
  119. p. 172, line 16We consider bibles and religions divine—I do not say they are not divine,
  120. p. 177, line 21Also the day and night do not fail, and the voyage we pursue does not fail.
  121. p. 177, line 25The beautiful sister we know dances on with the rest.
  122. p. 181, line 21Not the right only justified, what we call evil also justified.
  123. p. 183, line 9For we cannot tarry here,
  124. p. 183, line 10We must march my darlings, we must bear the brunt of danger,
  125. p. 183, line 11We the youthful sinewy races, all the rest on us depend,
  126. p. 183, line 19We take up the task eternal, and the burden and the lesson,
  127. p. 183, line 21All the past we leave behind,
  128. p. 183, line 22We debouch upon a newer mightier world, varied world,
  129. p. 183, line 23Fresh and strong the world we seize, world of labor and the march,
  130. p. 183, line 25We detachments steady throwing,
  131. p. 183, line 27Conquering, holding, daring, venturing as we go the unknown ways,
  132. p. 183, line 29We primeval forests felling,
  133. p. 183, line 30We the rivers stemming, vexing we and piercing deep the mines within,
  134. p. 183, line 31We the surface broad surveying, we the virgin soil upheaving,
  135. p. 184, line 1Colorado men are we,
  136. p. 184, line 3From the mine and from the gully, from the hunting trail we come,
  137. p. 184, line 6Central inland race are we, from Missouri, with the continental blood intervein'd,
  138. p. 184, line 18By those swarms upon our rear we must never yield or falter,
  139. p. 184, line 27Then upon the march we fittest die, soon and sure the gap is fill'd,
  140. p. 185, line 10We, a curious trio, picking, wandering on our way,
  141. p. 185, line 19We to-day's procession heading, we the route for travel clearing,
  142. p. 186, line 2Was the road of late so toilsome? did we stop discouraged nodding on our way?
  143. p. 192, line 4With those old continents whence we have come to this new continent,
  144. p. 192, line 7With the small shores we look back to from our own large and present shores,
  145. p. 192, line 12We touch all laws and tally all antecedents,
  146. p. 192, line 13We are the skald, the oracle, the monk and the knight, we easily include them and more,
  147. p. 192, line 14We stand amid time beginningless and endless, we stand amid evil and good,
  148. p. 197, line 24While we bask, we two together.
  149. p. 197, line 30While we two keep together.
  150. p. 200, line 13We two together no more.
  151. p. 203, line 5We murmur alike reproachfully rolling sands and drift, knowing not why,
  152. p. 203, line 25I gather for myself and for this phantom looking down where we lead, and following me and mine.
  153. p. 204, line 9Just as much whence we come that blare of the cloud-trumpets,
  154. p. 204, line 10We, capricious, brought hither we know not whence, spread out before you,
  155. p. 204, line 12Whoever you are, we too lie in drifts at your feet.
  156. p. 219, line 5(With gathering murk, with muttering thunder and lambent shoots we all duly awake,
  157. p. 219, line 6South, North, East, West, inland and seaboard, we will surely awake.)
  158. p. 225, line 7Point this day, leaving all the rest, to us over all—and yet we know not why,
  159. p. 225, line 8For what are we, mere strips of cloth profiting nothing,
  160. p. 226, line 6We may be terror and carnage, and are so now,
  161. p. 226, line 7Not now are we any one of these spacious and haughty States, (nor any five, nor ten,)
  162. p. 226, line 8Nor market nor depot we, nor money-bank in the city,
  163. p. 226, line 12Bays and channels and ships sailing in and out are ours—while we over all,
  164. p. 226, line 15We, even we, henceforth flaunt out masterful, high up above,
  165. p. 229, line 8Now we advance our latent and ampler hunger to fill,
  166. p. 229, line 9Now we go forth to receive what the earth and the sea never gave us,
  167. p. 229, line 10Not through the mighty woods we go, but through the mightier cities,
  168. p. 232, line 3As wending the crowds now part and disperse—but we old man,
  169. p. 232, line 4Not for nothing have I brought you hither—we must remain,
  170. p. 232, line 21Here we lay encamp'd, it was this time in summer also.
  171. p. 232, line 27We could watch down the lower bay where they lay at anchor,
  172. p. 233, line 20But we dared not trust the chances of a pitch'd battle.
  173. p. 233, line 21We fought the fight in detachments,
  174. p. 233, line 22Sallying forth we fought at several points, but in each the luck was against us,
  175. p. 233, line 24Till we turn'd menacing here, and then he left us.
  176. p. 234, line 5Wearied that night we lay foil'd and sullen,
  177. p. 238, line 17I faithfully loved you and cared for you living, I think we shall surely meet again,)
  178. p. 239, line 5We come to an open space in the woods, and halt by the dim-lighted building,
  179. p. 250, line 14You came, taciturn, with nothing to give—we but look'd on each other,
  180. p. 251, line 25Or whether we shall be victorious, or utterly quell'd and defeated.
  181. p. 253, line 20You of the rude campaigning, (which we shared,)
  182. p. 257, line 18As we wander'd together the solemn night, (for something I know not what kept me from sleep,)
  183. p. 262, line 22The ship has weather'd every rack, the prize we sought is won,
  184. p. 263, line 23Sing of the love we bore him—because you, dweller in camps, know it truly.
  185. p. 264, line 13What we are we are, nativity is answer enough to objections,
  186. p. 264, line 14We wield ourselves as a weapon is wielded,
  187. p. 264, line 15We are powerful and tremendous in ourselves,
  188. p. 264, line 16We are executive in ourselves, we are sufficient in the variety of ourselves,
  189. p. 264, line 17We are the most beautiful to ourselves and in ourselves,
  190. p. 264, line 18We stand self-pois'd in the middle, branching thence over the world,
  191. p. 264, line 21Whatever appears, whatever does not appear, we are beautiful or sinful in ourselves only.
  192. p. 264, line 23If we are lost, no victor else has destroy'd us,
  193. p. 264, line 24It is by ourselves we go down to eternal night.)
  194. p. 270, line 13The flag of peace quick-folded, and instead the flag we know,
  195. p. 287, line 12What we believe in waits latent forever through all the continents,
  196. p. 288, line 12Did we think victory great?
  197. p. 288, line 24O I know that those men and women were not for nothing, any more than we are for nothing,
  198. p. 289, line 1I know that they belong to the scheme of the world every bit as much as we now belong to it.
  199. p. 290, line 23All the grandeur and good of ancient nations whose fragments we inherit,
  200. p. 291, line 3All that is well thought or said this day on any part of the globe, or on any of the wandering stars, or on any of the fix'd stars, by those there as we are here,
  201. p. 294, line 22WHAT may we chant, O thou within this tomb?
  202. p. 294, line 24The life thou lived'st we know not,
  203. p. 298, line 8That we all labor together transmitting the same charge and succession,
  204. p. 298, line 9We few equals indifferent of lands, indifferent of times,
  205. p. 298, line 10We, enclosers of all continents, all castes, allowers of all theologies,
  206. p. 298, line 12We walk silent among disputes and assertions, but reject not the disputers nor any thing that is asserted,
  207. p. 298, line 13We hear the bawling and din, we are reach'd at by divisions, jealousies, recriminations on every side,
  208. p. 298, line 15Yet we walk unheld, free, the whole earth over, journeying up and down till we make our ineffaceable mark upon time and the diverse eras,
  209. p. 298, line 16Till we saturate time and eras, that the men and women of races, ages to come, may prove brethren and lovers as we are.
  210. p. 305, line 7And that my soul embraces you this hour, and we affect each other without ever seeing each other, and never perhaps to see each other, is every bit as wonderful.
  211. p. 311, line 19All shapes of beauty, grace and strength, all hues we know,
  212. p. 321, line 1O we can wait no longer,
  213. p. 321, line 2We too take ship O soul,
  214. p. 321, line 3Joyous we too launch out on trackless seas,
  215. p. 321, line 11Ah more than any priest O soul we too believe in God,
  216. p. 321, line 12But with the mystery of God we dare not dally.
  217. p. 323, line 2Have we not stood here like trees in the ground long enough?
  218. p. 323, line 3Have we not grovel'd here long enough, eating and drinking like mere brutes?
  219. p. 323, line 4Have we not darken'd and dazed ourselves with books long enough?
  220. p. 323, line 7For we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go,
  221. p. 323, line 8And we will risk the ship, ourselves and all.
  222. p. 326, line 27Onward we move, a gay gang of blackguards! with mirth-shouting music and wild-flapping pennants of joy!
  223. p. 329, line 9Now what my mother told me one day as we sat at dinner together,
  224. p. 333, line 10To think that we are now here and bear our part.
  225. p. 333, line 26To think of all these wonders of city and country, and others taking great interest in them, and we taking no interest in them.
  226. p. 334, line 1To think how eager we are in building our houses,
  227. p. 334, line 2To think others shall be just as eager, and we quite indifferent.
  228. p. 335, line 3To think that other working-men will make just as great account of them, yet we make little or no account.
  229. p. 335, line 5To think the difference will still continue to others, yet we lie beyond the difference.
  230. p. 336, line 25I have dream'd that we are not to be changed so much, nor the law of us changed,
  231. p. 337, line 7If maggots and rats ended us, then Alarum! for we are betray'd,
  232. p. 338, line 13Then we burst forth, we float,
  233. p. 347, line 25Thou! mounting higher, diving deeper than we knew, thou transcendental Union!
  234. p. 365, line 13(We know not what the use O life, nor know the aim, the end, nor really aught we know,
  235. p. 365, line 16We know not why or what, yet weave, forever weave.
  236. p. 366, line 1Nor think we forget thee maternal;
  237. p. 366, line 3Ah, but thou hast thyself now appear'd to us—we know thee,
  238. p. 367, line 21Shining sweetly, shining down, where we dig the trenches and gather the heaps,
  239. p. 368, line 23I know thee, savage spirit—we have communed together,
  240. p. 370, line 7Must we barely arrive at this beginning of us?—and yet it is enough, O soul;
  241. p. 370, line 8O soul, we have positively appear'd—that is enough.
  242. p. 370, line 17What historic denouements are these we so rapidly approach?
  243. p. 374, line 23Illustrious what we name space, sphere of unnumber'd spirits,
  244. p. 377, line 25Footsore and weary, soon as the light lessens we halt for the night,
  245. p. 378, line 4We rise up refresh'd, the night and sleep pass'd over, and resume our journey,
  246. p. 378, line 15And of each of us O soldiers, and of each and all in the ranks we fought,
  247. p. 378, line 16(There without hatred we all, all meet.)
  248. p. 378, line 17For presently O soldiers, we too camp in our place in the bivouac-camps of green,
  249. p. 378, line 18But we need not provide for outposts, nor word for the countersign,
  250. p. 379, line 18The long, long anchorage we leave,
  251. p. 382, line 9(Is it night? are we here together alone?)
  252. p. 386, line 22Did we count great, O soul, to penetrate the themes of mighty books,
  253. p. 396, line 24(Have former armies fail'd? then we send fresh armies—and fresh again;)
  254. p. 397, line 3Ended our talk—"The sum, concluding all we know of old or modern learning, intuitions deep,
  255. p. 397, line 5"Is, that we all are onward, onward, speeding slowly, surely bettering,
  256. p. 398, line 17We never met, and ne'er shall meet—and yet our souls embrace, long, close and long;)
  257. p. 398, line 27To ours to-day—and we pass on the same.
  258. p. 404, line 6So much i' the atmosphere, the points of view, the situations whence we scan,
  259. p. 409, line 11We know not whence, (was the answer,)
  260. p. 409, line 12We only know that we drift here with the rest,
  261. p. 409, line 13That we linger'd and lagg'd—but were wafted at last, and are now here,
  262. p. 412, line 3But we 'll make race a-time upon the seas—a battle-contest yet! bear lively there!
  263. p. 412, line 8As we take to the open—take to the deepest, freest waters.
  264. p. 413, line 4(We grand-sons and great-grand-sons do not forget your grandsires,)
  265. p. 413, line 41[…] and limitlessness of number are easily admitted. But we have, too, the eligibility of organizing, handling and officering equal […]
  266. p. 415, line 29An old man's garrulous lips among the rest, Think not we give out yet,
  267. p. 415, line 30Forth from these snowy hairs we keep up yet the lilt.
  268. p. 417, line 20Yea, Death, we bow our faces, veil our eyes to thee,
  269. p. 417, line 21We mourn the old, the young untimely drawn to thee,
  270. p. 418, line 26In which and upon which we float, and every one of us is buoy'd.
  271. p. 420, line 6And my mate there could tell you the like—we have often confab'd about it,)
  272. p. 422, line 9Long have we lived, joy'd, caress'd together;
  273. p. 422, line 12Long indeed have we lived, slept, filter'd, become really blended into one;
  274. p. 422, line 13Then if we die we die together, (yes, we'll remain one,)
  275. p. 422, line 14If we go anywhere we'll go together to meet what happens,
  276. p. 425, line 15[…] once the last hour had apparently arrived, and we seem'd certainly going down—yet reaching port in a sufficient […]
  277. p. 428, line 19My Book and I—what a period we have presumed to span! those thirty years from 1850 to '80—and […]
  278. p. 428, line 21[…] and America in them! Proud, proud indeed may we be, if we have cull'd enough of that period in its own spirit […]
  279. p. 428, line 27[…] Love, Nature, while those terms are indispensable, and we all give a sufficiently accurate meaning to them, in my […]
  280. p. 429, line 17[…] modern, American, seething multitudes around us, of which we are inseparable parts! Think, in comparison, of the petty environage […]
  281. p. 435, line 27[…] education, a certain liability accompanies them all, as we see. That primal and interior something in man, in his […]
  282. p. 436, line 2[…] averages of America. I was to show that we, here and to-day, are eligible to the grandest and the […]