Explore "Beat! Beat! Drums!" by Walt Whitman on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
1. Beat! beat! drums! -- Blow! bugles! blow! / Through the windows -- through doors -- burst like a force of ruthless men, / Into the solemn church, and scatter the congregation; / Into the school where the scholar is studying: / Leave not the bridegroom quiet -- no happiness must he have now with his bride; / Nor the peaceful farmer any peace, ploughing his field or gathering his grain; / So fierce you whirr and pound, you drums -- so shrill you bugles blow.
2. Beat! beat! drums! -- Blow! bugles! blow! / Over the traffic of cities -- over the rumble of wheels in the streets: / Are beds prepared, for sleepers at night in the houses? No sleepers must / sleep in those beds; / No bargainers' bargains by day -- no brokers or speculators -- Would they continue? / Would the talkers be talking? would the singer attempt to sing? / Would the lawyer rise in the court to state his case before the judge? / Then rattle quicker, heavier, drums -- you bugles wilder blow.