To A Stranger Poem by Walt Whitman

To A Stranger

Rating: 4.2


PASSING stranger! you do not know how longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking, or she I was seeking, (it comes to me,
as of a dream,)
I have somewhere surely lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall'd as we flit by each other, fluid, affectionate,
chaste, matured,
You grew up with me, were a boy with me, or a girl with me,
I ate with you, and slept with you- your body has become not yours
only, nor left my body mine only,
You give me the pleasure of your eyes, face, flesh, as we pass- you
take of my beard, breast, hands, in return,
I am not to speak to you- I am to think of you when I sit alone, or
wake at night alone,
I am to wait- I do not doubt I am to meet you again,
I am to see to it that I do not lose you. 10

Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Topic(s) of this poem: love
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Melissa Lira-elizondo 17 February 2016

I think this poem can speak to a lot of people, sure it can sound a little stalkerish. But it more of sounds like a man or women who is just too shy to actually go up to this person that are very fond of. Maybe they just haven't gotten the courage to, I'm sure there are many of you introverted people out there that have felt like this towards someone before. I know I have, I can see or even have this one particular guy in my class and without even speaking a word to him and have a very alarming attraction to him. But of course, I'm way to shy to say anything so you just gaze from afar and wish he/or she will make the first move. When they don't you're just tad bit heartbroken, and regret not speaking with them when you had the chance.

11 3 Reply
Sofia Kioroglou 30 July 2015

An exquisite piece!

7 4 Reply
Bharati Nayak 03 November 2015

'Stranger ' does not refer to any particular person.This is the feeling of love or love itself.A feeling of highest degree where mortal body thins into non-existence and merges with the feeling.That feeling is ever new, ever beautiful.

9 2 Reply
Tarlochansingh Lochi 12 July 2015

this is a very simple and passionate poem written by the master poet.

7 3 Reply
Captain Herbert Poetry 12 July 2015

a great and masterpiece work

6 3 Reply
Dorina Neculce 02 August 2016

I am to wait- I do not doubt I am to meet you again, I am to see to it that I do not lose you. very good

4 0 Reply
Ratnakar Mandlik 30 July 2016

Amazing love poem and a great pleasure to read. Thanks for sharing it heree.

1 0 Reply
Kirti Sharma 29 July 2016

such an amazing poem!

0 0 Reply

Indeed the beloved is a stranger, the uses of 'he' and 'she' brought about confusion...

1 0 Reply
Kagiso Mogale 23 May 2016

I Really loved it... short & straight to the point. It somehow made me think of a song by Dave Koz]]] You Are Me, I Am You.

1 0 Reply
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Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman

New York / United States
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