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West Islip High School Fore N' Aft 1958 Page One |
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"One thought ever at the fore-- That in the Devine Ship, the World, breasting Time and Space All Peoples of the globe together sail, sail the same voyage, are bound to the same destination.>BR> These mariners put ship through dangerous seas, This is the geologist, this works with the scalpel, and this is a mathematician, Gentlemen, to you the first honors always! Your facts are useful, and yey they are not my dwelling, I but enter by them to an area of my dwelling. Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose, Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-future, Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms, Strong and content I travel the open road. Lo, the unbounded sea, On its breast a ship starting, spreading all sails, carrying ever her Moonsails, The ppennant is flying aloft as she speeds so stately-- below, emulous waves press forward, They surround the ship with shining, curving motions and foam. Victory, union, faith, identity, time, The indissoluble compacts. riches, mystery, Eternal progress, the kosmo, and the modern reports, This then is life, Here is what comes to the surface after so many throes and convulsions. Joy, shipmate, joy! Beat! Beat! Drums!--Blow! Bugles! Blow! Through the windows-through the doors-burst like a ruthless force, Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation, Into the school where the scholar is studying. I too Paumanok, I too have bubbled up, floated the measureless float, and been wash'd on your shores, I too am but a trail of drift and debris, I too leave little wrecks upon you, you fish-shaped island. Blow! Blow! Blow! Blow up sea-winds along Paumanok's shore O span of youth! ever-pushed elasticity; O manhood balanced, florid and full. by Walt Whitman
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