Patroling Barnegat
Patroling Barnegat
Original Text
Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass (Philadelphia: David McKay, 1891-92): 208-09. PS 3201 1891 Robarts Library.
2Steady the roar of the gale, with incessant undertone muttering,
3Shouts of demoniac laughter fitfully piercing and pealing,
4Waves, air, midnight, their savagest trinity lashing,
5Out in the shadows there milk-white combs careering,
6On beachy slush and sand spirts of snow fierce slanting,
7Where through the murk the easterly death-wind breasting,
8Through cutting swirl and spray watchful and firm advancing,
9(That in the distance! is that a wreck? is the red signal flaring?)
10Slush and sand of the beach tireless till daylight wending,
11Steadily, slowly, through hoarse roar never remitting,
12Along the midnight edge by those milk-white combs careering,
13A group of dim, weird forms, struggling, the night confronting,
14That savage trinity warily watching.
Notes
1] Barnegat Bay is on the coast of Ocean County, New Jersey. Back to Line
Publication Start Year
1880
Publication Notes
American (June 1880)
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 1998.
Form