I Hear America Singing

by Walt Whitman

I Hear America Singing was published in Whitman's collection, Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855.

An illustration for the story I Hear America Singing by the author Walt Whitman — Eduard von Grützner, Contemplative Rest, 1897

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 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 him or 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.

I Hear America Singing was featured as The Short Story of the Day on Tue, Sep 17, 2019

8.7