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The paper outlines challenges that might be faced by translators of the first version of "Song of Myself" by Walt Whitman into Russian, which has not yet found its rightful place in the Russian literary culture. Intonation patterns of the poem in its original version of 1855 that are oversaturated with expressive means are compared to those of the authorized text of 1881. The conclusions drawn herein may prompt fancy translation solutions. Attention should be paid to Whitman's "expressive punctuation techniques" used in the first version to achieve a dramatic effect. It is noteworthy that in the authorized text, the poet is seeking to streamline the rhythm and make sound patterns richer at the expense of spontaneity and ingenuousness of the first version.