Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Excerpt from “When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d” in Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman, read by Curtis Lovell: Section 4

4 

In the swamp in secluded recesses,

A shy and hidden bird is warbling a song.

Solitary the thrush,

The hermit withdrawn to himself, avoiding the settlements,

Sings by himself a song.

Song of the bleeding throat.

Death’s outlet song of life, (for well dear brother I know,

If thou wast not granted to sing thou would’st surely die.)