FEINBERG/WHITMAN  LITERARY FILE   POETRY FILE  "Last Words" (1889). A. MS. drafts.  (DCN98).
Box 27 Folder 29

Includes verso letters from Josephine B. Kirtland,
undated; Richard T. Bucke, Dec. 3, 1889; and 
D. H. Kenaga, Apr. 9, 1889.1889 Last Words: poem. A. MS. (5p. various sizes, largest 20 x 27-1/2 cm.)

Written in pencil with numerous changes, corrections and additions
(one addition in ink), on the backs of two envelopes and three
letters to Whitman, are five drafts of a five-line poem variously
entitled "Last Words," "The Last," and "Recapitulation."  The en-
envelopes are from S. S. McClure and W. F. Woodruff, the letters
from D. H. Kenaga, Josephine B. Kirtland, and Dr. R. M. Bucke.
The McClure, Kenaga and Bucke items are dated Dec. 7, 1889, April
9, 1889, and Dec. 3, 1889.  Unpublished during Whitman's lifetime.

Detroit Ex. Cat #98.
(See Brown, p 37)? Last ? Finalè words
Finalè words
Recapitulation words
As to yet one more lease ?page (doubtless the last,)
Recapitulating [the old strain]
Subscribing the same old strain—[tallying the 
end is at beginning] — the emotional,
   the moral, the heroic,
By head and heart of me — 'by voice and pen —
wafted to you
 
To you here reading - tallying the end as beginning - — to you America,
Union, Equality and Love.W. F. Woodruff
Crawford
N. J.Last Words
As to [more] yet one [more lease] more scanse (doubtless the last)
Recapitulating [again] the same [old] [words—] themes — the
   emotional, the moral, the heroic,
By head and heart of me — by voice and pen  — 
[wafted to you] — addressing the old, [same] old words,
[To you here reading—to you America—tallying 
the end [with] and beginning 
Union, Equality [and] Love.]
To you here reading — Union, Equality, Love,
To you America, beginning, middle, end.this slip of paper and
put it in the envelope 
which is already directed
and stamped
yours truely
Josephine B Kirtland

Dear Mr. Whitman

I am a girl
thirteen years old 
and am trying to get 
a collection of autographs
I would like to have in 
my collective yours 
very much. If you 
would be so kind 
as to write your 
name on[? Last  ? Recapitualtion] 
[Last Words]
Last Words
As to yet [another] [one more] lease (doubtless the last)
[Subscribing yet] Recapitulating again the same old strain—
    tallying the end as at beginning
The Emotional, the moral, the heroic,
By head and heart of me—by voice
    and pen—wafted to you
To you [now] here reading—to you
   America
Union, Equality and Love,S. S. McCLURE,
TRIBUNE BUILDING
NEW YORK, N. Y.

Walt Whitman Esq.       (NEW YORK, DEC 7   7PM  89)
Camden, N. J.

(CAMDEN,N.J.
Dec 8
4 PM
1889
REC'D)The last.

Another lease [continuation]
(Doubtless the last)

And still [but] the same old strain
Thro' life and after Death
Just [The] end as at beginning

Whoe'er you are here reading
[Bottom] [On] [Bf] [Invisible] Behind each page - below
each line and word - invisible

The [My voice my] beating heart
Their young, mid-aged and [my] the fluttering life, [my] the voice - waftes[?] to you latest love,

Superintendent's Office. 

ASYLUM FOR THE INSANE
LONDON, ONTARIO
London, Ont.

3 Dec 1889

I was greatly relieved and pleased to
get from you this morning "The Post"
of 29 reporting that you had been down
stairs on 28 to a dinner of "Roast Turkey
& Plum Pudding"
I gave my 6th Lecture to the students
yesterday—two more will (I think) finish
the course.
Nothing new from Willy [?]. He ought to 
be in Waterbury Conn. this week making
official tests in the gas works there. I 
expect him here within two weeks.
All well and quiet here. Sleighing some
mild, sloppy weather. I am longing for 
frost and snow.

Love to you
Russ Bucke? Last Words
The last
To yet Another lease, (doubtless the last)
[?] [Sub?] subscribing still the same old strain
tallying at end as at beginning—
By head and heart of me—by voice and pen—wafted to you
To you whoever [now] reading—to you [you] America
[As behind us all and each foregoing piece
   and page]
My [beauty] heart and head, ? America, my voice
Union, Equality and Love
STATE OF ILLINOIS,
AUDITOR'S OFFICE.

SPRINGFIELD. April 9th, '89. [188]

Mr. Walt Whitman,
    Camden, N. J.
                                Dear Sir:—I much desire to obtain an
autographic copy of "November Boughs", and I would esteem it a
favor if you would have remailed to me the enclosed envelope
giving the price for such a copy that I may make remittance.
                                  Respectfully and truly,
                                                   D. H. Kenaga