There was a child went forth every day, And the first object he…

There was a child went forth every day, And the first object he look’d upon, that object he became, And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day, Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.

Walt Whitman1819–1892 · poet · 1800s USAWalt Whitman was an American poet whose bold, free-flowing collection Leaves of Grass broke away from traditional rhyme and rhythm to celebrate everyday people, nature, and democracy.47 quotes

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What turned up: There Was a Child Went Forth, Leaves of Grass; Exact wording and attribution checked. Complete opening verse paragraph: the natural and social world becomes part of the child’s developing self.
Work: There Was a Child Went Forth, Leaves of Grass
Sources checked: gutenberg.orgChecked using manual, 21 October 2026There Was a Child Went Forth, Leaves of Grass; Exact wording and attribution checked. Complete opening verse paragraph: the natural and social world becomes part of the child’s developing self.