Whitman, as Printed

‹ Leaves of Grass, 1891–92

The lines with “while”

while 106 Back to W

  1. p. 15, line 17We dwell a while in every city and town,
  2. p. 15, line 22Dwell a while and pass on, be copious, temperate, chaste, magnetic,
  3. p. 20, line 25Regarding it all intently a long while, then dismissing it,
  4. p. 24, line 5And while I paus'd it came to me that what he really sang for was not there only,
  5. p. 29, line 16Retiring back a while sufficed at what they are, but never forgotten,
  6. p. 31, line 11Knowing the perfect fitness and equanimity of things, while they discuss I am silent, and go bathe and admire myself.
  7. p. 39, line 28He turns his quid of tobacco while his eyes blurr with the manuscript;
  8. p. 40, line 15The young sister holds out the skein while the elder sister winds it off in a ball, and stops now and then for the knots,
  9. p. 52, line 25Fetching the rest of the herd around to enjoy them a while,
  10. p. 55, line 17What I guess'd while I lay alone in my bed,
  11. p. 58, line 11Solitary at midnight in my back yard, my thoughts gone from me a long while,
  12. p. 58, line 26I anchor my ship for a little while only,
  13. p. 67, line 24Selling all he possesses, traveling on foot to fee lawyers for his brother and sit by him while he is tried for forgery;
  14. p. 74, line 11Sit a while dear son,
  15. p. 75, line 10I do not say these things for a dollar or to fill up the time while I wait for a boat,
  16. p. 78, line 7Look in my face while I snuff the sidle of evening,
  17. p. 91, line 5The consequent meanness of me should I skulk or find myself indecent, while birds and animals never once skulk or find themselves indecent,
  18. p. 98, line 20Even while you should think you had unquestionably caught me, behold!
  19. p. 100, line 26Not in the murmurs of my dreams while I sleep,
  20. p. 101, line 11When he whom I love travels with me or sits a long while holding me by the hand,
  21. p. 102, line 18Who oft as he saunter'd the streets curv'd with his arm the shoulder of his friend, while the arm of his friend rested upon him also.
  22. p. 103, line 7And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores,
  23. p. 108, line 12Sojourning east a while longer, soon I travel toward you, to remain, to teach robust American love,
  24. p. 109, line 4A long while amid the noises of coming and going, of drinking and oath and smutty jest,
  25. p. 110, line 7While the one to depart tightly prest the one to remain in his arms.
  26. p. 124, line 13Why are there men and women that while they are nigh me the sunlight expands my blood?
  27. p. 125, line 13However welcome the hospitality that surrounds us we are permitted to receive it but a little while.
  28. p. 139, line 6Afar on arctic ice the she-walrus lying drowsily while her cubs play around,
  29. p. 147, line 18O while I live to be the ruler of life, not a slave,
  30. p. 158, line 7While how little the New after all, how much the Old, Old World!
  31. p. 160, line 20E'en while I chant I see it rise, I scan and prophesy outside and in,
  32. p. 164, line 26For well we know that while thou givest each and all, (generous as God,)
  33. p. 165, line 17While we rehearse our measureless wealth, it is for thee, dear Mother,
  34. p. 177, line 29Holding up in her hand what has the character of a mirror, while her eyes glance back from it,
  35. p. 185, line 18All for primal needed work, while the followers there in embryo wait behind,
  36. p. 196, line 10Were the centuries steadily footing it that way, all the while unknown, for you, for reasons?
  37. p. 197, line 24While we bask, we two together.
  38. p. 197, line 30While we two keep together.
  39. p. 203, line 19Breathe to me while I hold you close the secret of the murmuring I envy.
  40. p. 206, line 1While ravening clouds, the burial clouds, in black masses spreading,
  41. p. 224, line 4And what does it say to me all the while?
  42. p. 226, line 12Bays and channels and ships sailing in and out are ours—while we over all,
  43. p. 228, line 6While others remain busy or smartly talking, forever teaching thrift, thrift;)
  44. p. 231, line 20Rest, while I tell what the crowd around us means,
  45. p. 231, line 29While splendid and warm the afternoon sun shines down,
  46. p. 234, line 6While scornfully laugh'd many an arrogant lord off against us encamp'd,
  47. p. 234, line 10Silent as a ghost while they thought they were sure of him, my General retreated.
  48. p. 235, line 4Rank after rank falls, while over them silently droops the flag,
  49. p. 235, line 14Some emerge on the opposite bank, others are just entering the ford—while,
  50. p. 236, line 14While wind in procession thoughts, O tender and wondrous thoughts,
  51. p. 237, line 22While they stand at home at the door he is dead already,
  52. p. 242, line 14While the world of gain and appearance and mirth goes on,
  53. p. 242, line 16With hinged knees returning I enter the doors, (while for you up there,
  54. p. 243, line 19While the attendant stands behind aside me holding the tray and pail.
  55. p. 244, line 22While yet incessantly asking still I adhere to my city,
  56. p. 248, line 3WHILE my wife at my side lies slumbering, and the wars are over long,
  57. p. 248, line 21While from some distant part of the field the wind wafts to my ears a shout of applause, (some special success,)
  58. p. 249, line 8('Tis while our army lines Carolina's sands and pines,
  59. p. 253, line 6Rousing the land with breath of flame, while you beat and beat the drum,
  60. p. 253, line 13Evenly lightly rising and falling while the steps keep time;
  61. p. 257, line 17As you droop'd from the sky low down as if to my side, (while the other stars all look'd on,)
  62. p. 259, line 13Now while I sat in the day and look'd forth,
  63. p. 261, line 15While my sight that was bound in my eyes unclosed,
  64. p. 262, line 24While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
  65. p. 266, line 4Perceives that it waits a little while in the door, that it was fittest for its days,
  66. p. 275, line 10(Democracy, while weapons were everywhere aim'd at your breast,
  67. p. 275, line 18I will see if I have no meaning, while the houses and ships have meaning,
  68. p. 276, line 2While the winds fann'd me and the waves came trooping toward me,
  69. p. 284, line 20Even while you wept there by your fallen harp by the grave,
  70. p. 286, line 13The he-birds carol mornings and evenings while the she-birds sit on their nests,
  71. p. 293, line 9While her gown touch'd them rustling in the silence,
  72. p. 293, line 11While upon all, convicts and armed keepers ere they stirr'd,
  73. p. 295, line 1While through the interior vistas,
  74. p. 300, line 4I WAS looking a long while for Intentions,
  75. p. 309, line 20While Nature, sovereign of this gnarl'd realm,
  76. p. 311, line 17Tremulous, while underneath, (as the hid footholds of the earth,
  77. p. 328, line 8He is baffled, bang'd, bruis'd, he holds out while his strength holds out,
  78. p. 332, line 12I stay a while away O night, but I return to you again and love you.
  79. p. 344, line 3O me while I stride ahead, material, visible, imperious as ever;
  80. p. 345, line 7Now while the great thoughts of space and eternity fill me I will measure myself by them,
  81. p. 345, line 14AS I sit with others at a great feast, suddenly while the music is playing,
  82. p. 345, line 21Sinking there while the passionless wet flows on—and I now pondering, Are those women indeed gone?
  83. p. 351, line 7While thou, Time's spirals rounding, out of thyself, thyself still extricating, fusing,
  84. p. 354, line 4The man falls struggling and foaming to the ground, while he speculates well.
  85. p. 356, line 19While at thy liquid prelude, glad, serene,
  86. p. 370, line 5Perhaps soon some day or night while I am singing my voice will suddenly cease.
  87. p. 372, line 15Follow me ever—desert me not while I live.
  88. p. 373, line 10How society waits unform'd, and is for a while between things ended and things begun,
  89. p. 377, line 9As she call'd to her earth with mournful voice while she stalk'd,
  90. p. 380, line 23While my pleasure is yet at the full I whisper So long!
  91. p. 381, line 20Swiftly on, but a little while alighting,
  92. p. 382, line 21I receive now again of my many translations, from my avataras ascending, while others doubtless await me,
  93. p. 384, line 56[…] Rain, 399 Soon Shall the Winter's Foil Be Here, 399 While Not the Past Forgetting, 399 The Dying Veteran, 400 Stronger Lessons, 400 A […]
  94. p. 391, line 23—Foams and ferments the wine? it serves to purify—while the heart pants, life glows:
  95. p. 399, line 12Soon shall these icy ligatures unbind and melt—A little while,
  96. p. 399, line 21While not the past forgetting,
  97. p. 401, line 4While he the globe was circling round and round,—and now returns:
  98. p. 407, line 17[…] certainly I have nothing fresh to write)—I while away the hours of my 72d year—hours of forced […]
  99. p. 407, line 29[…] as well gather and put in fair type while able to see correctly—(for my eyes plainly warn me […]
  100. p. 408, line 2[…] anywhere—nothing left but behave myself quiet, and while away the days yet assign'd, and discover if there is […]
  101. p. 411, line 7No, while memories subtly play—the past vivid as ever;
  102. p. 428, line 26[…] question what it is. Like Religion, Love, Nature, while those terms are indispensable, and we all give a sufficiently […]
  103. p. 430, line 15[…] well, probably never to be excell'd—but that while in such æsthetic presentation of objects, passions, plots, thoughts, &c […]
  104. p. 435, line 22[…] stragglers, and reduce everything to a dead level. While the ambitious thought of my song is to help the […]
  105. p. 437, line 13While I can not understand it or argue it out, I […]
  106. p. 438, line 1[…] After looking at it thoughtfully for a good while, and listening to the criticisms of his suite of students […]