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I Hear America Singing
I hear
America singing, the varied carols I hear;
Those of the mechanics-each one singing his,as it should be, blithe and
strong;
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam,
The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work,or leaves off work;
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat-the deckhand singing on
the steamboat deck;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench-the hatter singing as he
stands;
The wood-cutter's song-the ploughboy's, on his way inthe morning, or at the
noon intermission, or at sundown;
The delicious singing of the mother-or of the youngwife at work-or of the
girl sewing or washing-Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else;
The day what belongs to the day-At night, the party ofyoung fellows, robust,
friendly,Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs.
Walt Whitman