Song of Myself

" I exist as I am, that is enough,
If no other in the world be aware I sit content,
And if each and all be aware I sit content."- Song of Myself, Leaves of Grass

I finally sat down and really read some Walt Whitman yesterday and was floored. He has a gift for writing poetry but more importantly has his thumb on universal wisdom, which is so exciting to see as a part of the American canon. In ode to failure (Whitman spits true knowledge!):

18
With music strong I come, with my cornets and my drums,
I play not marches for accepted victors only, I play marches for
conquer'd and slain persons.

Have you heard that it was good to gain the day?
I also say it is good to fall, battles are lost in the same spirit
in which they are won.

I beat and pound for the dead,
I blow through my embouchures my loudest and gayest for them.

Vivas to those who have fail'd!
And to those whose war-vessels sank in the sea!
And to those themselves who sank in the sea!
And to all generals that lost engagements, and all overcome heroes!
And the numberless unknown heroes equal to the greatest heroes
known!

Check out the entire poem here: http://www.princeton.edu/~batke/logr/log_026.html