Smartyfair
Yet it remains to me a curious token, it makes me think of manly love; For all that, and though the live-oak glistens there in Louisiana solitary in a wide flat space, Uttering joyous leaves all its life without a friend a lover near, I know very well I could not.

Where these words come from

How sure this is
95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up
“I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing,” Leaves of Grass, final edition (1892); Complete thirteen-line poem as published by the Academy of American Poets, identifying the1892 edition. Full poem read. Retains the need for friends, lovers and manly love; not reduced to a generic solitude maxim. This t
Work
“I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing,” Leaves of Grass, final edition (1892)
Sources checked
  • poets.orgChecked using manual, 20 October 2026“I saw in Louisiana a live-oak growing,” Leaves of Grass, final edition (1892); Complete thirteen-line poem as published by the Academy of American Poets, identifying the1892 edition. Full poem read. Retains the need for friends, lovers and manly love; not reduced to a generic solitude maxim. This t

Nothing made from these words yet — Storyfaire is where they get made.

More from Walt Whitman

See all

More inspiration

See all

Leave without saving?

You have a change that hasn’t been saved yet. Clicking out of the box saves it — closing now throws that change away.