FEINBERG/WHITMAN LITERARY FILE POETRY FILE "Autumn Rivulets"(1881). Proof Sheets. Box 26 Folder 24 Includes corrections. AUTUMN RIVULETS. [AS CONSEQUENT, etc.] As consequent from store of summer rains, Or wayward rivulets in autumn flowing, Or many a herb-lined brook's reticulations, Or subterranean sea-rills making for the sea, Songs of continued years I sing. Life's ever-modern rapids first, (soon, soon to blend, With the old streams of death.) Some threading Ohio's farm-fields or the woods, Some down Colorado's cañons from sources of perpetual snow, Some half-hid in Oregon, or away southward in Texas, Some in the north finding their way to Erie, Niagara, Ottawa, Some to Atlantica's bays, and so to the great salt brine. In you whoe'er you are my book perusing, In I myself, in all the world, these currents flowing, All, all toward the mystic ocean tending. Currents for starting a continent new, Overtures sent to the solid out of the liquid, Fusion of ocean and land, tender and pensive waves, (Not safe and peaceful only, waves rous'd and ominous too, Out of the depths the storm's abysmic waves, who knows whence? Raging over the vast, with many a broken spar and tatter'd sail.) Or from the sea of Time, collecting vasting all, I bring, A windrow-drift of weeds and shells. O little shells, so curious-convolute, so limpid-cold and voiceless, Will you not little shells to the tympans of temples held, Murmurs and echoes still call up, eternity's music faint and far, Wafted inland, sent from Atlantica's rim, strains for the soul of the prairies, Whisper'd reverberations, chords for the ear of the West joyously sounding, Your tidings old, yet ever new and untranslatable, Infinitesimals out of my life, and many a life, (For not my life and years alone I give—all, all I give,) These waifs from the deep, cast high and dry, Wash's on America's shores? 1612 1881++ Autumn Rivulets: Proofs of 16 Poems for 'New Book'. A.MS. (16p. various sizes, 2½ to 17½ x 10½ cm.) Written in ink at the bottom of a (clipped) proof of 'Old War-Dreams', 4 words: Walt Whitman's New Book Accompanying is a collection of (clipped) proofs of 'Autumn Rivulets' with cancelled title, 'As Consequent,' Etc. without any other markings or annotations: 'From Far Dakota's Cañons', 'A Farm Picture', 'What Best I See on Thee' (U.S.Grant), 'The Sobbing of the Bells', 'Italian Music in Dakota', 'By Broad Potomac's Shore', 'Excelsior', 'With All They Gifts', 'To Rich Givers', 'The Dalliance of the Eagles', 'Tears', 'After the Sea-Ship', 'Aboard at a Ship's Helm', and 'Thick-Sprinkled Bunting'. (All poems listed separately) AUTUMN RIVULETS. --------- [AS CONSEQUENT, Etc.] As consequent from store of summer rains, Or wayward rivulets in autumn flowing, Or many a herb-lined brook's reticulations, Or subterranean sea-rills making for the sea, Song of continued years I sing. Life's ever-modern rapids first, (soon, soon to blend, With the old streams of death.) Some threading Ohio's farm-fields or the woods, Some down Colorado's cañons from sources of perpetual snow, Some half-hid in Oregon, or away southward in Texas, Some in the north finding their way to Erie, Niagara, Ottawa, Some to Atlantica's bays, and so to the great salt brine. In you whoe'er you are my book perusing, In I myself, in all the world, these currents flowing, All, all toward the mystic ocean tending. Currents for starting a continent new, Overtures sent to the solid out of the liquid, Fusion of ocean and land, tender and pensive waves, (Not safe and peaceful only, waves rous'd and ominous too, Out of the depths the storm's abysmic waves, who knows whence? Raging over the vast, with many a broken spar and tatter'd sail.) Or from the sea of Time, collecting vasting all, I bring, A window-drift of weeds and shells. O little shells, so curious-convolute, so limpid-cold and voiceless, Will you not little shells to the tympans of temples held, Murmurs and echoes still call up, eternity's music faint and far, Wafted inland, sent from Atlantica's rim, strains for the soul of the prairies, Whisper'd reverberations, chords for the ear of the West joyously sounding, Your tidings old, yet ever new and untranslatable, Infinitesimals out of my life, and many a life, (For not my life and years alone I give—all, all I give,) These waifs from the deep, cast high and dry, Wash'd on America's shores? Proofs of poems used for making pages for a future book [Feinberg?] 1951 Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.