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Good-Bye, My Fancy!

This Page Includes: Full Verses of the Poem in Text. A Recording of the Poem (Audio). A Free PDF Download for reading purposes. Free Editable Google Doc Download if you wish to make changes or to personalise the poem. The page also includes what the poem is about, structure of poem and explaining the best parts.

Good-Bye, My Fancy! Poem Verses

Good-bye my Fancy!
Farewell dear mate, dear love!
I‘m going away, I know not where,
Or to what fortune, or whether I may ever see you again,
So Good-bye my Fancy.
Now for my last – let me look back a moment;
The slower fainter ticking of the clock is in me,
Exit, nightfall, and soon the heart-thud stopping.
Long have we lived, joy‘d, carress‘d together;
Delightful! – now separation – Good-bye my Fancy.
Yet let me not be too hasty,
Long indeed have we lived, slept, filter‘d, become really blended into one;
Then if we die we die together, (Yes, we‘ll remain one,)
If we go anywhere we‘ll go together to meet what happens,
May-be we‘ll be better off and blither, and learn something,
May-be it is yourself now really ushering me to the true songs, (who knows?)
May-be it is you the mortal knob really undoing, turning – so now finally,
Good-bye – and hail! my Fancy.

Audio Recording

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Personalised Poem

Would you like to customise this poem? You have the option to personalise it by accessing the provided link, which will direct you to Google Docs. From there, you can download the poem ‘Memories’ to your personal Google Docs account or Microsoft Word where you will be able to edit the poem however you want.

Personalised Poem

About the poem

The poem is a farewell to the speaker's "Fancy", which can be interpreted as the speaker's imagination, creativity, or perhaps even a person they loved. The speaker acknowledges that they are going away and are uncertain of their future or whether they will ever see their Fancy again. The poem reflects on the moments of joy and togetherness that they shared, but also acknowledges the inevitability of separation and death. The speaker considers the possibility that they and their Fancy are so intertwined that they will remain one, even in death. The poem suggests that the speaker is ready to embrace whatever may come, whether it is something better or a new understanding of life and death. Ultimately, the poem celebrates the connection between the speaker and their Fancy, while acknowledging the bittersweet nature of saying goodbye.

The Structure of Poem

Walt Whitman’s poem “Good-Bye My Fancy!” has a free-verse structure with no specific rhyme scheme or meter. The poem is divided into three stanzas, with the first two stanzas consisting of four lines each, and the last stanza consisting of six lines. The poem is addressed to the speaker's “Fancy,” which can be interpreted as the speaker's imagination, creative inspiration, or a specific person. The poem explores the themes of separation, mortality, and the unknown future, as the speaker says goodbye to their past and embraces whatever the future may hold.

Best Quote from Good-Bye, My Fancy! Poem

This is a quote from the poem Good-Bye, My Fancy! by Walt Whitman

"Good-bye my Fancy! Farewell dear mate, dear love!"

This opening line is a poignant and emotional expression of farewell, encapsulating the sadness and uncertainty that comes with parting ways with someone or something that is deeply cherished. It is a relatable sentiment that can be applied to a variety of situations, making it a powerful quote.