NOT the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship into port, though beaten back, and
    many
	times
	baffled; 
Not the path-finder, penetrating inland, weary and long, 
By deserts parch’d, snows-chill’d, rivers wet, perseveres till he reaches his
	destination,
	
More than I have charged myself, heeded or unheeded, to compose a free march for These
    States, 
To be exhilarating music to them—a battle-call, rousing to arms, if need
    be—years,
	centuries hence.         5

Poet: Walt Whitman
Poem: 16. Not the Pilot.
Volume: Leaves of Grass
- 8. Drum-Taps
Year: Published/Written in 1900

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