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Poetry Manuscripts

Table of Contents

leaf 1 recto

Behold thy hunters,

miners, pioneers

Behold the hunter

in the woods,

the firshermen in their boats,

t T he sweet, eternal, homely arts,

Cooking and washing, clean

liness

Ho The song of the divine housekeeper

These arts employments, farms,

Wealth, and inventions, nor

all the arts works and trades

for shap development for identity

character,

utility for immortal life

divine

Date: This manuscript was likely written in 1871 after Whitman accepted the invitation from the American Institute to compose and recite a poem at the opening of its fortieth Annual Exhibition in New York City. Whitman read the poem on September 7, 1871, and it was published soon after that in several newspapers and in a small book.

Editorial note: This manuscript relates to the poem first published as "After All, Not to Create Only" in 1871. The poem was ultimately titled "Song of the Exposition." This manuscript seems to be related to what became section 8 in the final version of the poem.; The verso of the manuscript leaf is blank.

Location: After All Not to Create Only | The Charles E. Feinberg Collection of the Papers of Walt Whitman, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

The Walt Whitman Archive