I Hear America Singing

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.           10

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