Good-Bye My Fancy (Poem by Walter Whitman)

Good-Bye My Fancy

By Walter Whitman

Good-bye my fancy — (I had a word to say,

But ’tis not quite the time — The best of any man’s word or say,

Is when its proper place arrives — and for its meaning,

I keep mine till the last.)

Good-Bye My Fancy!

By Walter Whitman

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, caress’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.

Poem Analysis:

Walt Whitman’s Good-Bye My Fancy is a tender, contemplative farewell poem that reads like a monologue delivered at the edge of life’s final frontier. It serves as both a literal goodbye and a symbolic reckoning—between the poet and his muse, between the self and the soul, and ultimately between life and death. Written toward the end of Whitman’s life, this piece echoes many of his signature themes: companionship, identity, mortality, and the mysterious journey beyond.

Structure and Tone: A Gentle Farewell

The poem opens with a short, parenthetical stanza that sets a reflective, almost conversational tone:

Good-bye my fancy — (I had a word to say,

But ’tis not quite the time...)

Here, Whitman breaks the fourth wall. He speaks as if pausing mid-thought, hesitant to conclude. This hesitation signals the emotional weight of parting—not just from life or loved ones, but from the inner self, which he calls “my Fancy.” In Whitman’s vocabulary, “fancy” can be interpreted as imagination, poetic voice, or creative spirit.

The repetition of the phrase “Good-bye my Fancy” throughout the poem deepens the emotional tone. It’s not a rushed or final break, but a reverent leave-taking. The use of "fancy" suggests a part of Whitman that has accompanied him through all stages of his life—his inspiration, his curiosity, and his reflective soul.

The Metaphor of Departure

I’m going away, I know not where,

Or to what fortune, or whether I may ever see you again...

This is one of the poem’s most poignant admissions. Whitman confronts the mystery of death not with fear, but with openness. He acknowledges his uncertainty about what lies ahead. There is no firm belief in an afterlife, only the possibility of reunion, learning, or transformation.

The imagery is subtle yet powerful: “The slower fainter ticking of the clock is in me” evokes the weakening of life, while “the heart-thud stopping” signals impending death. These quiet bodily metaphors mark the gentle exit from life—no dramatic climax, just the natural rhythm winding down.

Companionship Between Poet and Fancy

Long have we lived, joy’d, caress’d together...

In this line, the poet recalls the intimacy he has shared with his inner muse—his “fancy.” It's not merely poetic inspiration he's saying goodbye to, but a lifelong companion. The word “caress’d” suggests tenderness, even sensuality, underscoring how essential imagination has been to Whitman’s being.

Then if we die we die together...

If we go anywhere we’ll go together...

This is a profound statement about unity between the physical self and the imaginative self. In Whitman's spiritual worldview, death is not necessarily the end—it might be a continuation, a transformation. His fancy—his essence—will remain intact, even if his body ceases. This refusal to separate the imaginative from the mortal emphasizes Whitman’s holistic vision of the self.

Possibility Beyond Death

May-be we’ll be better off and blither, and learn something...

This line is strikingly hopeful. Whitman envisions death not as loss, but as a new phase of knowledge and joy. His use of “may-be” reveals his humility—he doesn’t claim to know what happens next. But he does suggest that whatever it is, it may be enlightening, liberating, even blissful.

May-be it is yourself now really ushering me to the true songs...

Whitman suggests that his fancy—his creative and philosophical self—is not ending with death, but perhaps beginning anew. The “true songs” may be yet to come, in some unknowable realm. This positions death as a threshold to deeper truths, where the imagination continues its work in another form.

“Good-bye — and hail!”: The Paradox of Parting

The final line perfectly encapsulates the poem’s paradoxical spirit:

Good-bye — and hail! my Fancy.

By saying “hail” immediately after “good-bye,” Whitman collapses the distance between ending and beginning. It’s not just a farewell—it’s also a greeting. This mirrors the idea that death is not a disappearance but a transformation, or even a return.

Themes and Interpretations

• Mortality and Acceptance: Whitman meets death not with dread but with grace and curiosity, modeling an attitude of acceptance.
• Imagination as Companion: The “fancy” is not just inspiration, but a deeply personal and enduring part of the self.
• Unity of Body and Soul: Life and death, self and spirit, are intertwined and inseparable.
• Mystery and Openness: Rather than declaring what comes after, Whitman dwells in possibility, wonder, and reverence for the unknown.
• Continuity Beyond Death: There’s a sense that the journey doesn’t end—new songs, new experiences may yet unfold.

Good-Bye My Fancy is a quiet masterpiece of spiritual and emotional honesty. Walt Whitman uses this poem to say farewell not only to his earthly life but to the inner voice that shaped his poetry and identity. It’s a love letter to imagination, a philosophical meditation on death, and a hopeful gesture toward whatever comes next. With characteristic humility, compassion, and curiosity, Whitman shows that even the final goodbye can be filled with tenderness, courage, and the faint music of future possibilities.