Walt Whitman’s doctor annotates his patient intake form — from mcsweeneys.net by Amanda Lehr
Excerpt:
NAME:
Whitman, Walter
Physician Notes: Goes by “Walt.”
ADDRESS:
The Grass
Notes: Is this a housing development? Clarify with patient.
AGE:
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin,
Hoping to cease not till death.
I know I am deathless.
Notes: Well, aren’t we optimistic?
…
OCCUPATION:
I am the actor, the actress, the voter, the politician,
The emigrant and the exile, the criminal that stood in the box,
He who has been famous and he who shall be famous after to-day,
Notes: Unemployed.
…
ARE YOU SEXUALLY ACTIVE?
The armies of those I love engirth me and I engirth them.
Notes: Yes.