Poem for the Fourth Annual Brigid Poetry Reading
In honor of Brigid, Goddess of Poetry and Healing, this year my contribution is a poem written in 1860 by one of my favorite American mystics, Walt Whitman. Follow the links in the comments section of this post and the original invitation to the great web of poetry that is being spun today. States! by Walt Whitman STATES! Were you looking to be held together by the lawyers? By an agreement on a paper? Or by arms? Away! I arrive, bringing these, beyond all the forces of courts and arms, These! to hold you together as firmly as the earth itself is held together. The old breath of life, ever new, Here! I pass it by contact to you, America. O mother! have you done much for me? Behold, there shall from me be much done for you. There shall from me be a new friendship—It shall be called after my name, It shall circulate through The States, indifferent of place, It shall twist and intertwist them through and around each other— Compact shall they be, showing new signs, Affection shall...