I Hear America Singing -Fareez Mamood

I Hear America Singing







by Walt Whitman (from Leaves of Grass, 1900)










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 the 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.