Beat! Beat! Drums!

           BEAT! beat! drums!-blow! bugles! blow!
           Through the windows-through doors-burst like a ruthless force,
           Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation,
           Into the school where the scholar is studying;
           Leave not the bridegroom quiet-no happiness must he have now with
              his bride,
           Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering
              his grain,
           So fierce you whirr and pound you drums-so shrill you bugles blow.

           Beat! beat! drums!-blow! bugles! blow!
           Over the traffic of cities-over the rumble of wheels in the streets;
           Are beds prepared for sleepers at night in the houses? no sleepers
              must sleep in those beds,
           No bargainers' bargains by day-no brokers or speculators-would
              they continue?
           Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing?
           Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the
              judge?
           Then rattle quicker, heavier drums-you bugles wilder blow.

           Beat! beat! drums!-blow! bugles! blow!
           Make no parley-stop for no expostulation,
           Mind not the timid-mind not the weeper or prayer,
           Mind not the old man beseeching the young man,
           Let not the child's voice be heard, nor the mother's entreaties,
           Make even the trestles to shake the dead where they lie awaiting the
              hearses,
           So strong you thump O terrible drums-so loud you bugles blow.

           
From Paumanok Starting I Fly Like a Bird                         

           FROM Paumanok starting I fly like a bird,
           Around and around to soar to sing the idea of all,
           To the north betaking myself to sing there arctic songs,
           To Kanada till I absorb Kanada in myself, to Michigan then,
           To Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, to sing their songs, (they are
              inimitable;)
           Then to Ohio and Indiana to sing theirs, to Missouri and Kansas and
              Arkansas to sing theirs,
           To Tennessee and Kentucky, to the Carolinas and Georgia to sing
              theirs,
           To Texas and so along up toward California, to roam accepted
              everywhere;
           To sing first, (to the tap of the war-drum if need be,)
           The idea of all, of the Western world one and inseparable,
           And then the song of each member of these States.

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