3 Whitman Settings: No. 3, The Last Invocation

At the last, tenderly,

From the walls of the powerful, fortress’d house,

From the clasp of the knitted locks—from the keep of the well-closed doors,

Let me be wafted.

Let me glide forth noiselessly;

With the key of softness unlock the locks—with a whisper,

Set ope the doors O Soul.

Tenderly—be not impatient!

(Strong is your hold O mortal flesh,

Strong is your hold O love.)