My Legacy
The business man the acquirer vast,
After assiduous years surveying results, preparing for
…… departure,
Devises house and lands to his children, bequeaths stocks,
…… goods, funds for school or hospital,
Leaves money to certain companions to buy tokens,
…… souvenirs of gems and gold.
But, I, my life surveying, closing,
With nothing to show to devise from its idle years,
Nor houses nor lands, nor tokens of gems or gold for my
……. friends,
Yet certain remembrances of the war for you, and after you,
And little souvenirs of camps and soldiers, with my love,
I bind together and bequeath in this bundle of songs.
by Walt Whitman
from Walt Whitman Complete Poetry and Collected Prose
Viking Press, 1982