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Letter to James Russell Lowell, January 20, 1860

Whitman, Walt. "Letter to James Russell Lowell, January 20, 1860." Walt Whitman: The Correspondence. Ed. Edwin Haviland Miller. New York: New York University Press, 1961. 47-48.
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Type: 
manuscript
Genre: 
correspondence
Abstract: 

Whitman writes to James Russell Lowell about the upcoming publication of his piece Bardic Symbols. He gives Mr. Lowell permission to exclude two of the poem’s more graphic lines.

Full Text

To James Russell Lowell

Jan. 20, '60
Dear Sir,
Mr. House informed me that you accepted, and would publish, my “Bardic Symbols.” If so, would you, as soon as convenient, have it put in type, and send me the proof?
About the two lines:
(See from my dead lips the ooze exuding at last!
See the prismatic colors glistening and rolling!)
I have in view, from them, an effect in the piece which I clearly feel, but cannot as clearly define. Though I should prefer them in, still, as I told Mr. House, I agree that you may omit them, if you decidedly wish to.
Yours&c
Walt Whitman
Portland av. Near Myrtle | Brooklyn, N.Y.

People who Created this Work

Whitman, Walt author

People Mentioned in this Work

House, Edward [pages:47]

Whitman mentions that Mr. House informed him about the poem's upcoming publication.

AUTHOR(S) OF - Letter to James Russell Lowell, January 20, 1860

Whitman, Walt

Born on Long Island and raised in Brooklyn, Walt Whitman spent his childhood and early adulthood amid the sights and

MENTIONED IN - Letter to James Russell Lowell, January 20, 1860

House, Edward

Edward Howard House, also known as “Ned,” was born near Boston and became a musical prodigy under his pianist mother's tutelage.