by Whitman · Cluster: Self-Knowledge · Immortality · Self-Reliance
Abstract
Intense Calamus lyric in which ‘confession drops’ of blood stain every page; blood, confession, shame and the body as the bleeding source of song.
Connections
Motifs: Blood, Letters and Writing Themes & Concepts: Body, Lust Sexual Desire, Comradeship
Testo integrale / Full text
Cluster: CALAMUS
Trickle drops! my blue veins leaving!
O drops of me! trickle, slow drops,
Candid from me falling, drip, bleeding drops,
From wounds made to free you whence you were prison’d,
From my face, from my forehead and lips,
From my breast, from within where I was conceal’d, press forth red
drops, confession drops,
Stain every page, stain every song I sing, every word I say, bloody drops,
Let them know your scarlet heat, let them glisten,
Saturate them with yourself all ashamed and wet,
Glow upon all I have written or shall write, bleeding drops,
Let it all be seen in your light, blushing drops.