A Poem for Thursday: "Song of the Open Road", 1. - Walt Whitman

Song of the Open Road
Walt Whitman

1. 

Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, 

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune,

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,

Strong and content I travel the open road.

The earth, that is sufficient,

I do not want the constellations any nearer,

I know they are very well where they are,

I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still I carry my old delicious burdens, 

I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go, 

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them,

I am fill'd with them; and I will fill them in return.)

"Head Full of Doubt / Road Full of Promise"
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