I Hear America Singing
by Walt Whitman
I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear,
Those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,
The carpenter singing his as he measures his plank. or beam,
The mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work,
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck,
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands,
The woodcutter's song, the ploughboy's on his way in the morning, or at noon intermission or at sundown,
The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young] wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing,
Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,
The day what belongs to the day-at night the party, of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.
An example of repetition in Whitman's free verse poem, "I Hear America Singing, " is
A. Lines 15,16 : The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work,
B. the repetition of the word "singing") throughout the poem.
C. Lines 11-13: the hatter singing as he stands, The wood-cutter's song, the, ploughboy's on his way...
