History & Politics

Old Age’s Ship & Crafty Death’s

by Walt Whitman 1819–1892

From Leaves of Grass

History & Politics

From east and west across the horizon’s edge,
Two mighty masterful vessels sailers steal upon us:
But we’ll make race a-time upon the seas--a battle-contest yet! bear
lively there!
(Our joys of strife and derring-do to the last!)
Put on the old ship all her power to-day!
Crowd top-sail, top-gallant and royal studding-sails,
Out challenge and defiance--flags and flaunting pennants added,
As we take to the open--take to the deepest, freest waters.

MLA

Whitman, Walt. “Old Age’s Ship & Crafty Death’s.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/whitman/355/.

Chicago

Whitman, Walt. “Old Age’s Ship & Crafty Death’s.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/whitman/355/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

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