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I Saw Old General At Bay

By Walt Whitman

Topics: classic

I saw old General at bay; (Old as he was, his grey eyes yet shone out in battle like stars;) His small force was now completely hemm'd in, in his works; He call'd for volunteers to run the enemy's lines - a desperate emergency; I saw a hundred and more step forth from the ranks - but two or three were selected; I saw them receive their orders aside - they listen'd with care - the adjutant was very grave; I saw them depart with cheerfulness, freely risking their lives.

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"I saw old General at bay;..."

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Author:Walt Whitman

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"I saw old General at bay;..." by Walt Whitman

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Walt Whitman

About Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman (1819–1892) was an American poet who pioneered free verse with his collection "Leaves of Grass" (1855). His poem "Song of Myself" celebrates democracy, the body, and the interconnectedness of all life, and he is often called the father of modern American poetry.

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"Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road, ..."

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