Not The Pilot

Walt Whitman

   NOT the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship into port, though
         beaten back, and many times baffled;
   Not the path-finder, penetrating inland, weary and long,
   By deserts parch'd, snows-chill'd, rivers wet, perseveres till he
         reaches his destination,
   More than I have charged myself, heeded or unheeded, to compose a
         free march for These States,
   To be exhilarating music to them--a battle-call, rousing to arms, if
         need be--years, centuries hence.

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