Day and night Quote by Walt Whitman
““Song of myself Now I will do nothing but listen, To accrue what I hear into this song, to let sounds contribute toward it. I hear bravuras of birds, bustle of growing wheat, gossip of flames, clack of sticks cooking my meals, I hear the sound I love, the sound of the human voice, I hear all sounds running together, combined, fused or following, Sounds of the city and sounds out of the city, sounds of the day and night, Talkative young ones to those that like them, the loud laugh of work-people at their meals, The angry base of disjointed friendship, the faint tones of the sick, The judge with hands tight to the desk, his pallid lips pronouncing a death-sentence, The heave'e'yo of stevedores unlading ships by the wharves, the refrain of the anchor-lifters, The ring of alarm-bells, the cry of fire, the whirr of swift-streaking engines and hose-carts with premonitory tinkles and color'd lights, The steam-whistle, the solid roll of the train of approaching cars, The slow march play'd at the head of the association marching two and two, (They go to guard some corpse, the flag-tops are draped with black muslin.) I hear the violoncello, ('tis the young man's heart's complaint,) I hear the key'd cornet, it glides quickly in through my ears, It shakes mad-sweet pangs through my belly and breast. I hear the chorus, it is a grand opera, Ah this indeed is music--this suits me.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: "Song of Myself" from Leaves of Grass, 1855
Listening to the world’s myriad sounds integrates experience into a personal creative expression, revealing unity in diversity.
In simple terms: Listening to all sounds creates personal music.
Listen deeply and weave experiences into your own narrative.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- writing
- mindfulness
- environmental appreciation
- urban planning
- music composition
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What sounds shape your inner song?
- How does attentiveness to everyday noise influence your creativity?
Risk of romanticizing noise without addressing its sources or impacts.