Walt Whitman — Not the Pilot

Not the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship into port,          though beaten back and many times baffled; Not the pathfinder penetrating inland weary and long, By deserts parch'd, snows chill'd, rivers wet, perseveres till he          reaches his destination, More than I have charged myself, heeded or unheeded, to compose          march for these States, For a battle-call, rousing to arms if need be, years, centuries hence.