Once I Pass'D through a Populous City by Walt Whitman

Once I pass'd through a populous city imprinting my brain for future use with its shows, architecture, customs, traditions, Yet now of all that city I remember only a woman I casually met there who detain'd me for love of me, Day by day and night by night we were together-all else has long been forgotten by me, I remember I say only that woman who passionately clung to me, Again we wander, we love, we separate again, Again she holds me by the hand, I must not go, I see her close beside me with silent lips sad and tremulous.

Unpublished version:

Once I passed through a populous celebrated city, imprinting my brain for future use, with its shows, architecture, customs and traditions, But now of all that city I remember only the man who wandered with me, there, for love of me, Day by day, and night by night, we were together

All else has long been forgotten by me-I remember, I say, only one rude and ignorant man who, when I departed, long and long held me by the hand, with silent lip, sad and tremulous.

[1859]