Walt Whitman — As the Time Draws Nigh

As the time draws nigh glooming a cloud, A dread beyond of I know not what darkens me. I shall go forth, I shall traverse the States awhile, but I cannot tell whither or how long, Perhaps soon some day or night while I am singing my voice will         suddenly cease. O book, O chants! must all then amount to but this? Must we barely arrive at this beginning of us? —and yet it is          enough, O soul; O soul, we have positively appear'd—that is enough.