I travel the open road

Song of the Open Road (Part I) by Walt Whitman

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

Healthy, free, the world before me, 
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. 

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune, 

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, 
Strong and content I travel the open road. 

  




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The earth, that is sufficient, 

I do not want the constellations any nearer,

I know they are very well where they are, 

I know they suffice for those who belong to them. 

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens, 

I carry them, men and women, I carry them with me wherever I go, 

I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them, 

I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.) 
 

 

My thoughts

This poem speaks to me of the eternal call of the road and the wandering spirit who cannot resist that pull. I had explored this theme in my own poem 'The Vagabond' a while back. What fun it would be to be footloose and fancy-free - to go wherever the road takes me, without inhibitions, without obstacles, without fears. As the world unfolds at every new stretch of the road, new vistas will be revealed and new experiences will be lived.

The poem also reminds me of 'Invictus'- being the 'master of my fate': "I ask not good fortune, I myself am good fortune". This does not mean that I have no burdens or worries - but as the poet puts it, though "I carry my old delicious burdens", I am "strong and content" to travel the open road again and again.

Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

Whitman is regarded as one of America's most significant nineteenth century poets. In his most famous collection of poems, 'Leaves of Grass', he celebrated democracy, nature, love and friendship. This monumental work, inspired by his travels through the American frontier, chanted praises to the body as well as the soul and found beauty and reassurance even in death.