FEINBERG/WHITMAN      LITERARY FILE   POETRY FILE "Of That Blithe Throat of Thine"(1884).  AMS. S. draft.     (DCN82).
Box 27  Folder 54
Includes verso letter from Folger McKinsey, June 10, 1884.Of that blithe throat of thine

[More than 83 degrees north — about a good
day's steaming distance to the Pole by one of
our fast oceaners, in clear water — Greely heard
the song of a single snow bird merrily sounding [out of] over
the desolation.]

Of that blithe throat of thine, [through] [mid] from arctic bleak
   and blank
I'll mind the lesson [arctic] solitary bird — [I also] let me too welcome
   [ice and] chilling drifts,
[Nay,] E'en the profoundest chill, as now — a torpid
   [heart,] pulse, a brain unnerv'd,
Old age land-lock'd within its winter-bay, (cold,
   cold, O cold!)
These snowy hairs, lameness, a feeble arm,
For them thy faith, thy rule [I'll] [to] I take, and grave it to
   the last
Not [mid] [for] [the] summer[y]'s zones alone—not 
   chants of youth [alone] or souths warm tides alone,
But held by sluggish floes, pack'd in the
   northern ice, the cumulus of years,
[All] [These] These with gay heart [to] [these too ? ??? also] I also sing.

Walt Whitman[*zps (pa 58/4/26)
zcs*]

Phila. June 10th, 1884.

Mr. Whitman,

Dear Sir: -

I called on you this 
evening but did not get to see you and take
the liberty to trouble you with the reading
of this little note. I have read "As a strong
 bird on pinions free" and can hardly express
my admiration for your poetry. To me it is
grand and beautiful and I am anxious to see
you and talk with you about it. If you can
spare the time, and as you told me you 
would only be at home Monday and Tuesday in
the evening, will you write a few lines telling
me when it will suit you to have me come
over again. I am so much afraid of intruding 
upon you that a little not of assurance
will I think make me feel freer to come. 
I left the volume of Burns' letter for you, the
book you loaned me and the one you gave
me. The latter I thought I could treasure more 
closely if you would be kind enough to put
your autograph in it and I hope you will 
not think it immodest in my asking you to
do so. I have been more deeply impressed
with your poems than you will believe; I think
the dirge on Lincoln is as fine and
beautiful a thing in that way that I have
ever read. I must read all your writing over
and over again. I pray you forgive me 
for having detained you so long with this 
longish note and believe me -

Sincerely yours,

Folger McKinsey

#1716 Vine St. Phila.780

1884 Of That Blithe Throat of Thine; a poem. A.MS.s. on
verso of discarded letter. (1p. 28 x 22 cm.)

Reference to this particular poem is made by the author in his Commonplace
Book (no. 52) Oct. 17, 1884.
On verso letter written to Walt Whitman by Folger McKinsey from
Philadelphia on June 10, 1884 in which he discusses with admiration As a
Strong Bird on Pinions Free and mentions Whitman lending him a volume
of Burns' Letters.
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