Song of the Open Road

AFOOT and light-hearted, I take to the open road,

Healthy, free, the world before me,

The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.

Henceforth I ask not good-fortune--I myself am good fortune;

Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,

Strong and content, I travel the open road.

I think whatever I shall meet on the road I shall like, and whoever

beholds me shall like me;

I think whoever I see must be happy.

 From this hour, freedom!

From this hour I ordain myself loos'd of limits and imaginary lines,

Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute,

Listening to others, and considering well what they say,

Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating,

Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that

would hold me.

I inhale great draughts of space;

The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are

mine.

I am larger, better than I thought;

I did not know I held so much goodness.

(I encourage you to read Walt Whitman's poem in its entirety here.)