Need a Really Close Friend?: Learn One French Word and Let’s Take a Walk

Want to learn a little French? Allons means “come with me.” Why would you want to know it? Because Walt Whitman uses it numerous times in his poem “Song of the Open Road.” What is the significance of it? Pretty simple, really. He invites the reader to join him as a fellow traveler on life’s open road; it is a deep desire for him. In the road of life, he senses — as I said yesterday — the vibrations, the energy of spirit in all things, and he wants us to share in all of that wonderful spirit of acceptance, understanding, and appreciation — and so much more.

The motivation for this is love of his fellow man. The words, to me, are beautiful, and they quiver with the passion for life coming from his heart:
Camerado, I give you my hand!
I give you my love more precious than money,
I give you myself before preaching or law;
Will you give me yourself? will you come travel with me?
Shall we stick by each other as as we live?
Whitman, “Song of the Open Road” (15)

When we find something truly inspiring, life-changing, soul-satisfying, we usually want to share that with others, because that is the way we are wired. Our hearts rejoice, and that joy seeks outlet with other people who view our discoveries in a similar light.

Whitman gives the sense of that when he refers to comrades — close, personal, intimate friends who have shared in life with you. He looked on his readers that way. He simply offers us his hand and his valuable love (“more precious than money”). He gives himself without condemning anyone morally or legally — “before preaching or law.” He accepts that no matter what people have done, they can be his comrades. He knows that any are capable of coming to know their own hearts and perceive all of the open road of life as he has; then, no condemnation exists.

In The Fellowship of the Heart, one of the protagonists, Alaun Cadeyrn says, “Once you become aware of such things, the question is always how to live in the flow of the Spirit. It is in such times that we find joy, contentment, purpose, and significance. It is then that we matter, and it is then that we know love for ourselves and for others.” Living in the flow of the Spirit implies knowledge and fellowship of one’s own heart. It begins there. If you know yourself, you can come to know, really know, anyone.

Are you looking for friends? Do you want to enjoy the camaraderie of others, be that close and know that kind of security and joy? Do you want to feel great about your life and the lives of others? You know what you have to do, right?

​Know yourself. Speak to your own heart. Come alive to all the wonderful world vibrating with the energies of life, and then, come with me and Walt. Take our hands! Allons!

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