ADIEU, O soldier! 
You of the rude campaigning, (which we shared,) 
The rapid march, the life of the camp, 
The hot contention of opposing fronts—the long manoeuver, 
Red battles with their slaughter,—the stimulus—the strong, terrific game,
Spell of all brave and manly hearts—the trains of Time through you, and like of you,
    all
	fill’d, 
With war, and war’s expression. 
  
Adieu, dear comrade! 
Your mission is fulfill’d—but I, more warlike, 
Myself, and this contentious soul of mine,
Still on our own campaigning bound, 
Through untried roads, with ambushes, opponents lined, 
Through many a sharp defeat and many a crisis—often baffled, 
Here marching, ever marching on, a war fight out—aye here, 
To fiercer, weightier battles give expression.

Added: on October 4th, 2004 at 3:32 AM | Viewed: 13638 times | Comments (5)

Poet: Walt Whitman
Poem: 4. Adieu to a Soldier.
Volume: Leaves of Grass
- 10. Marches Now the War is Over
Year: Published/Written in 1900

Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Adieu to a Soldier., has received 5 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!