Poetry Month

Section VII is called "The Strength of Men." Freud would have a field day with the fact that, in spite of Mom having two older brothers and worshiping her father, not one poem is checked here.

Section VIII is called "Patriots and Soldiers."

I Hear America Singing
by 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 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.

I sang this in choir in 7th grade. I can still hear it in my head: Miss Lay pounded that first line into our heads over and over trying to get us to e-nun-ci-ate properly.

I hear (break/pause) A-merica sing-ing [I hear her singing] / Her varied (not vareeeed, varid!!!) ca-rols-I-hear...

Great poem, in spite of Miss Lay.