Sections 26-36 Summary

These sections begin with a grouping of poems titled "Autumn Rivulets." Whitman speaks of the consequence of the summer rains and how they diverge onto the land and into the ocean to set out for new continents. This is followed by a poem in which the writer refers to autumn fields and harvest.

"There was a Child Went Forth" talks about a child who became the things he saw. This began with observations of the child seeing lilacs and morning glories and baby lambs. As the child grew, the scenes changed, incorporating school and friends, city and country. The parents also became part of the child by their love, discipline, and even silence. As an adult, all these children hurry down the streets, place goods in windows and ride on the ferries, each one comprised of the things in their lifetime...