Leaves of Grass: The First (1855) Edition (Penguin Classics)

Product Description “I am large, I contain multitudes”A Penguin Classic   When Walt Whitman self-published his Leaves of Grass in July 1855, he altered the course of literary history. One of the greatest masterpieces of American literature, it redefined the rules of poetry while describing the soul of the American character. Throughout his great career, Whitman continuously revised, expanded, and republished Leaves of Grass, but many critics believe that the book that matters most is the 1855 original. Penguin Classics proudly presents that text in its original and complete form, with an introductory essay by the writer and poet Malcolm Cowley. “I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume, For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.”For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators. Review “Whitman, the great poet, has meant so much to me. Whitman the one man breaking a way ahead. Whitman the one pioneer . . . Ahead of Whitman, nothing. Ahead of all poets, pioneering into the wilderness of unopened life, Whitman. Beyond him, none.” —D. H. Lawrence About the Author Walt Whitman (1819–1892) was born on Long Island and educated in Brooklyn, New York. He served as a printer's devil, journeyman compositor, itinerant schoolteacher, editor, and unofficial nurse to Northern and Southern soldiers.Malcolm Cowley (editor/introducer; 1898–1989) a leadiing literary figure of his time, wrote numerous books of literary criticism, essays, and poetry. Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. INSCRIPTIONSOne's-Self I SingOne's-Self I sing, a simple separate person,Yet utter the word Democratic, the word En-Masse.Of physiology from top to toe I sing,Not physiognomy alone nor brain alone is worthy for the Muse, I say the Form complete is worthier far,The Female equally with the Male I sing.Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and power,Cheerful, for freest action form'd under the laws divine,The Modern Man I sing.As I Ponder'd in SilenceAs I ponder'd in silence,Returning upon my poems, considering, lingering long,A Phantom arose before me with distrustful aspect,Terrible in beauty, age, and power,The genius of poets of old lands,As to me directing like flame its eyes,With finger pointing to many immortal songs,And menacing voice, What singest thou? it said,Know'st thou not there is but one theme for ever-enduring bards?And that is the theme of War, the fortune of battles,The making of perfect soldiers.Be it so, then I answer'd,I too haughty Shade also sing war, and a longer and greater one than any,Waged in my book with varying fortune, with flight, advance and retreat, victory deferr'd and wavering,(Yet methinks certain, or as good as certain, at the last,) the field the world,For life and death, for the Body and for the eternal Soul,Lo, I too am come, chanting the chant of battles,I above all promote brave soldiers.In Cabin'd Ships at SeaIn cabin'd ships at sea,The boundless blue on every side expanding,With whistling winds and music of the waves, the large imperious waves,Or some lone bark buoy'd on the dense marine,Where joyous full of faith, spreading white sails,She cleaves the ether mid the sparkle and the foam of day, or under many a star at night,By sailors young and old haply will I, a reminiscence of the land, be read,In full rapport at last.Here are our thoughts, voyagers' thoughts,Here not the land, firm land, alone appears, may then by them be said,The sky o'erarches here, we feel the undulating deck beneath our feet,We feel th

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