Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, TO A CERTAIN CIVILIAN, by WALT WHITMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

TO A CERTAIN CIVILIAN, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Did you ask dulcet rhymes from me?
Last Line: For I lull nobody, and you will never understand me.
Subject(s): American Civil War; United States - History


Did you ask dulcet rhymes from me?
Did you seek the civilian's peaceful and languishing rhymes?
Did you find what I sang erewhile so hard to follow?
Why I was not singing erewhile for you to follow, to
understand--nor am I now;
(I have been born of the same as the war was born,
The drum-corps' rattle is ever to me sweet music, I love
well the martial dirge,
With slow wail and convulsive throb leading the officer's funeral;)
What to such as you anyhow such a poet as I? therefore leave my works,
And go lull yourself with what you can understand, and with
pianotunes,
For I lull nobody, and you will never understand me.





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