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August 30, 2011

Song of the Open Road



AFOOT and light-hearted, I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.




Henceforth I ask not good-fortune—I myself am good fortune;
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Strong and content, I travel the open road.




The earth—that is sufficient;
I do not want the constellations any nearer;
I know they are very well where they are;
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens;
I carry them, men and women—I carry them with me wherever I go;
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them;
I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.)

~ from Song of the Open Road by Walt Whitman


13 comments:

  1. Would take to that road any time... with such a beautiful invitation !

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  2. I agree with Owen and I'd like to compliment you on your creativity and artistic ability. Great post!

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  3. Oooh...this make me miss the road realll bad! I remember in northern Alaska running into a couple of guys in a VW bus. In the back they had all kinds of spare parts, including en entire spare motor. Their trip had started in southern Argentina! I wanted to hop in and make the return trip with them!!

    Glad to see you getting back out on the road...wonder what your gas prices are now where you live? I suppose I could just start walkin'....

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  4. I very much like image #2 and the juxtaposition of your Whitman poem.

    I see that image behind my eyes everyday and have since I was a child in Oklahoma on the road to gran'pa's house.

    With respect to Whitman's burdens, I am amazed that a man who nurse soldiers for 3 years in the Civil War could sound so incredibly fresh.

    Having taken to the road myself, I can attest to the veracity of his assertion that it is "impossible for me to get rid of them; I am fill'd with them..." since I am more aware than ever of them by their absence.

    Word verf, I swear: pressuro

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  5. What a perfect pairing! I so enjoyed this beautiful offering.

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  6. Wonderful in b&w! The bottom shot with the focus on the electric post is super cool.

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  7. On the road again
    Can't wait to get on the road again
    Goin' places that I've never been
    Seein' things that I may never see again
    Just can't wait to get on the road again

    Especially if it was with you . . .

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  8. Immediately brings to mind the Gordon Lightfoot song, "Carefree Highway"
    Carefree highway, let me slip away on you
    Carefree highway, you seen better days
    The mornin' after blues from my head down to my shoes
    Carefree highway, let me slip away
    Slip away on you

    Definitely not as profound as Whitman, but you can sing it as you drive along.

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  9. Upon seeing these images and in the briefest stound, i though of two words: Pat Metheny.

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  10. Oh, this is wonderful. I want to go on a road trip so darned bad! As it is, my husband and I will be on the coast highway tomorrow for a day trip to the beach. But I want to head out and just keep going.

    I so appreciate the specialness of this post.

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  11. A song of freedom...
    This text is beautiful and goes very well with your pictures ... it perfectly symbolizes the attitude that we must have in front of life ,for me,of course ..:o)
    Happiness is often hidden in the palm of our hand ...but we can see it..we always want something else...
    Maybe this road will take you in the deepest of yourself ..
    See you soon...
    With all my best thoughts..:o)

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  12. Your photos go so well with Walt Whitman. The middle photo is spot on perfect, gives me more to try to achieve.

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  13. this is, perhaps, one of my favourite posts of yours - so compelling and subtle... i come back again and again, to watch, without words...

    (if i need words, there is the poem already there, telling everything, so fitting)

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