Leaves of Grass

First appearing in 1855 when he was thirty-six years of age, Leaves of Grass was Whitman's self-published collection of twelve poems that he would revise and add to many times during his life.

Come, said my soul,

Such verses for my Body let us write, (for we are one,)

That should I after return,

Or, long, long hence, in other spheres,

There to some group of mates the chants resuming,

(Tallying Earth's soil, trees, winds, tumultuous waves,)

Ever with pleas'd smile I may keep on,

Ever and ever yet the verses owning--as, first, I here and now

Signing for Soul and Body, set to them my name,

Walt Whitman