When I Heard The Learn'd Astronomer By Walt Whitman - Poems

Skip to main content Search Submit

Poems

Find and share the perfect poems.

Page submenu block

• find poems
• find poets
• poem-a-day
• literary seminars
• materials for teachers
• poetry near you

When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Add to anthology

× Walt Whitman 1819 – 1892

When I heard the learn’d astronomer, When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me, When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them, When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick, Till rising and gliding out I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in perfect silence at the stars.

This poem is in the public domain.

Born on May 31, 1819, Walt Whitman is the author of Leaves of Grass and, along with Emily Dickinson, is considered one of the architects of a uniquely American poetic voice. About Walt Whitman Themes Math Public Domain Science Space About this Poem

Though the poem deals primarily with scientific and romantic themes, it was written in the midst of the Civil War and first appeared in Whitman's collection entitled Drum-Taps.

Sign up for Poem-a-Day

* indicates required Email Address *

More by this poet

When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d

When lilacs last in the door-yard bloom’d, And the great star early droop’d in the western sky in the night, I mourn’d—and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring. O ever-returning spring! trinity sure to me you bring; Lilac blooming perennial, and drooping star in the west, And thought of him I love.

2

Walt Whitman 1850

O Captain! My Captain!

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won, The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting, While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring; But O heart! heart! heart! O the bleeding drops of red,

Walt Whitman 1891

Song of Myself, V

I believe in you my soul, the other I am must not abase itself to you,And you must not be abased to the other.

Loafe with me on the grass, loose the stop from your throat,Not words, not music or rhyme I want, not custom or lecture, not even the best,Only the lull I like, the hum of your valvèd voice.

Walt Whitman 1891

Newsletter Sign Up

• Academy of American Poets Newsletter
• Academy of American Poets Educator Newsletter
• Teach This Poem
• Poem-a-Day

Email Address

Support Us

• Become a Member
• Donate Now
• Get Involved
• Make a Bequest
• Advertise with Us

Follow Us

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Tumblr
• SoundCloud
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Pinterest