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July 28, 2011

"This was Whitman. And the true rhythm of the American continent speaking out in him. He is the first white aboriginal."

openroad.jpg

'In my Father's house are many mansions.'

'No,' said Whitman. 'Keep out of mansions. A mansion may be heaven on earth, but you might as well be dead. Strictly avoid mansions. The soul is herself when she is going on foot down the open road.'

It is the American heroic message. The soul is not to pile up defences round herself. She is not to withdraw and seek her heavens inwardly, in mystical ecstasies. She is not to cry to some God beyond, for salvation. She is to go down the open road, as the road opens, into the unknown, keeping company with those whose soul draws them near to her, accomplishing nothing save the journey, and the works incident to the journey, in the long life-travel into the unknown, the soul in her subtle sympathies accomplishing herself by the way. -- D. H. Lawrence, Studies in Classic American Literature/Chapter 12

Posted by Vanderleun at July 28, 2011 10:16 AM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.

Your Say

Yes. This.

My favorite "Rockabilly" song echos that: "There's an Open Road from the Cradle to the Mouth of God."

Posted by: Gray at July 27, 2011 10:10 PM

D.H. Lawrence was Beat before Beat was beat.

Posted by: Gray at July 27, 2011 10:26 PM

Beautiful.

Posted by: Expiate at July 28, 2011 9:20 PM

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