Beat! Beat! Drums! - A poem by Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman - Beat! Beat! Drums!

1
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, plowing his field or gathering his grain; 
So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums—so shrill you bugles blow. 
  
2
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. 
  
3
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.

Added: on April 13th, 2009 at 9:57 AM | Viewed: 15131 times | Comments and analysis of Beat! Beat! Drums! by Walt Whitman Comments (14)

Beat! Beat! Drums! - Comments and Information
Poet: Walt Whitman (Walt Whitman Art) Poem: 3. Beat! Beat! Drums! Volume: Leaves of Grass - 8. Drum-Taps Year: Published/Written in 1900 Poem of the Day: Jan 1 2005 Comment 14 of 14, added on November 25th, 2009 at 5:14 PM. interseting i love this poem and one of his other works called 'o captain, my captain'... its an interesting poem about death and a fathers love. i love walt whitman and adger allen poe, and many others i cant name (be to long) mikayla dennis from United States Comment 13 of 14, added on July 2nd, 2009 at 10:13 AM. This is a very emotional poem. The last verse is the clincher of the poem. The drums and the bungles are calling everyone to war. They care not for the protesters, nor the mother"s pleadings, nor the old man trying to talk the young man out of going. Their cause is the most important. Patriotism, bravery, but also ignorance I found in this poem. Joe C. from United States Comment 12 of 14, added on April 13th, 2009 at 9:57 AM. i believe that this mr.walt whitman must have bad body odor, because everyone back then had some hygien problems and surely he must have been the same!!!!SCREAMERS!!!!(that is cronic diharea) just incase you did not know....that is painful! Olivia from United States More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Beat! Beat! Drums!, has received 14 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own. Of course you can also always discuss poems by Walt Whitman with others on the American Poems poetry forum!

Poem Info
Poet: Walt Whitman Poem: 3. Beat! Beat! Drums! Volume: Leaves of Grass - 8. Drum-Taps Year: Published/Written in 1900 Last read: Nov 30 2009, 2:18PM Poem of the Day: Jan 1 2005 Viewed 15131 times. Added on April 13th, 2009 at 9:57 AM.

Whitman Info
Biography More Poems (330 poems) Books