Welcome to the Daily Poem, a podcast from Goldberry Studios.

I'm Sean Johnson, and today is Thursday, July 4th, 2024.

Happy Independence Day to all of our American listeners.

Today we have two poems to mark the occasion, both about America,

both capturing one kind of optimism or another.

One, the first poem may be a more unqualified optimism.

The second poem, which is responding to it, perhaps something a little more complicated.

The first poem is by Walt Whitman, and it's called I Hear America Singing.

The second is Langston Hughes, I, too. I'll read them both, just once each, maybe say a few

things at the end.

But these are the kinds of poems that speak with themselves.

I hear America singing.

I hear America singing.

The varied carols I hear, those of mechanics, each one singing his as it should be blithe and strong,

the carpenter singing his as he measures his plank or beam, the mason singing his as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work, the boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat,

the deck hand singing on the steamboat deck, the shoman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deck hand singing on the steamboat deck,

the shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands, the woodcutters

song, the plow boys on his way in the morning or at noon intermission or at sundown,

the delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work,

or of the girl sewing or washing, each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else,

the day what belongs to the day, at night the party of young fellows robust, friendly,

singing with open mouths, their strong,

...