by Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)
Once I pass'd through a populous city,...
Language: English
Once I pass'd through a populous city, imprinting my brain, for future use, with its shows, architecture, customs, and traditions; Yet now, of all that city, I remember only a woman I casually met there, who detain'd me for love of me; Day by day and night by night we were together, -- All else has long been forgotten by me; I remember, I say, only that woman who passionately clung to me; Again we wander -- we love -- we separate again; Again she holds me by the hand -- I must not go! I see her close beside me, with silent lips, sad and tremulous.
About the headline (FAQ)
Portions of this text were used in Idyll by Frederick Delius.
Authorship:
- by Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892), no title, appears in Leaves of Grass [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Frederick Piket (1903 - 1974), "Once I pass'd through a populous city", published 1955 [ bass and mixed chorus a cappella ], New York: Associated Music [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2004-07-05
Line count: 10
Word count: 103