Walt Whitman

Here you will find the Poem Not The Pilot of poet 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 path-finder, 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 a
 free march for These States,
 To be exhilarating music to them--a battle-call, rousing to arms, if
 need be--years, centuries hence.