Although The Book of Hours is the work of Rilke's youth, it contains the germ of his mature convictions. Written as spontaneously received prayers, these poems celebrate a God who is not the Creator of the Universe but rather humanityitself and, above all, that most intensely conscious part of humanity, the artist. Babette Deutsch's classic translations-born from "the pure desire to sing what thepoet sang" (Ursula K. Le Guin)-capture the rich harmony and suggestive imagery of the originals, transporting the reader to new heights of inspiration and musicality.

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone!

This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishing's Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone

WALT WHITMAN BUILDER FOR AMERICA WAIT WHITMAN Guilder for America By BABETTE DEUTSCH ILLUSTRATED BY RAFAELLO BUSONI NEW YORK . Julian Messnerj Inc. FOR ADAM expecting the main things from him CONTENTS 1. STARTING FROM PAUMANOK 3 2. DROPPED IN THE STREET 11 3-A FONT OF TYPE 23 4. A POPULOUS CITY 37 5. FULL OF LIFE NOW 52 6. STRONGER LESSONS 68 7. DRUM-TAPS 83 8. THE WOUND DRESSER 93 9. QUICKSAND YEARS 108 10. AFTER THE DAZZLE 125 11. so LONG 142 A SELECTION FROM THE POEMS OF WALT WHITMAN 161 SUGGESTED READINGS 265 BIBLIOGRAPHY 269 INDEX 275 As a young woman I came upon these words of Walt Whitman Go, dear friend, if need be give up all else, and com mence to-day to inure yourself to pluck, reality, self-esteem, definiteness, elevatedness, Rest not till you rivet and publish yourself of your own Personality. These lines stirred me so that I started reading Whitman from cover to cover, and have done so over and over again for more than fifty years, finding in him courage to stand for my own truth, my personality, and all that I hold dear in life. It is therefore for me a profound satisfaction that this remarkable biography of him has won my award. JULIA ELLSWORTH FORD. WALT WHITMAN BUILDER FOR AMERICA America because you build for mankind I build for you, well-beloved stone-cutters, I lead them who plan with decision and science, Lead the present with friendly hand toward the future. 1. STARTING FROM PAUMANOK WALT WAS the son of a carpenter-But his adventures began on a farm, within sound and smell of the sea. His grandmother Van Velsor was a sea-captains daughter. Walt liked to hear her tell the story of Old Salt Kossabone, his great-great-grandfather, who 3

CONTENTS THE DANCERS PAGE THE DANCERS 13 BACCHANAL 15 ANNA 17 A GIRL 18 EXILES 19 EPHEMERIS EPHEMERIS 23 MARBLES 25 TRAILS 28 GENRE 31 GARDENS 32 OMBRES CHINOISES 33 DISTANCE 34 SMOKE 36 ROMANCE 38 TWO HOKKUS 39 SHOWER 4O quotTO AN AMIABLE CHILDquot 4 THE DEATH OF A CHILD 43 SEA-MUSIC 44 HARMONICS 45 IX CONTENTS SONGS AND SILENCES PAGE SONGS 51 SILENCE 52 FROM THE FERRY 53 WALLS 54 DAWN 55 CANDLES 56 LURES 57 SEA PIECE 58 PRELIBATION . 59 SONNETS THE SILVER CHORD 63 SIC SEMPER 64 SOLITUDE 6 THE UNDELIVERED 66 ATHANATOS 67 SEVERANCE 68 THE PERFECTIONIST 69 TO RANDOLPH BOURNE 70 REDEMPTION 71 BANNERS BANNERS 75 THE CHALLENGER 78 ALIENS So KING S PARK 82 JUNE 1917 85 THE NEW DIONYSIAC 88 BEAUTY 90 PSALM FOR THE NEW ZION 92 ZORKA 96 ET LE BON DIEU PENSA 99 X THE DANCERS -