Whitman Leaves 1855 Facsimile

ora
LEAVES OF GRASS
1855
FACSIMILE EDITION
This Facsimile Edition consists of 500 copies ( Second
Impression ) printed on Old Stratford white wove
paper , medium octavo , in dark green cloth , stamped in
gold to match the original binding .
LEAVES OF GRASS
BY WALT WHITMAN
112
FACSIMILE EDITION
OF THE 1855 TEXT
1
3B M
PORTLAND MAINE
THOMAS BIRDMOSHER
WILLIAM FRANCIS GABLE
MDCCCCXX
2
1
The
UNIV STIY
!
'
OF CHICAGO
LIBRARY
COPYRIGHT
THOMAS BIRD MOSHER
1919
1
Leaves of Grass.
THE ABOVE IS A FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL LETTERING

ON THE FRONT WRAPPER OF A COPY OF THE FIRST EDITION .
SEE SECTION IV OF THIS INTRODUCTION , AND ADDENDA I.
1
S
:
Leaves
of
Grass .
Brooklyn , New York :
18 55 .
the
the
of
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1855 , by WALTER WHITMAN in
of
Clerk's office District Court the
the
for
of
United States Southern District New York
.
MERICA does not repel the past or but always most in the common people . Their
A manners speech .
friendships — the freshness
its
produced dress
or
what has under forms
it
amid other politics and candor of their physiognomy — the picturesque

or
or
the idea of castes the old
looseness of their carriage ...
..
religions accepts the lesson with calmness their deathless attach
so .
impatient ment to freedom — their aversion to anything indeco

as
not supposed that the

is
has been
rous or soft or mean -the practical acknowledgment
slough still sticks opinions and manners liter
to
and
all
of the citizens of one state by the citizens of other
its
ature while the life which served requirements

... states — the fierceness
of
passed their roused resentment
of
has into the new life the new forms
—
their curiosity novelty their self
of
perceives that the corpse slowly borne from the and welcome
in of is
—
eating and sleeping the house perceives esteem and wonderful sympathy their suscept
rooms
.
... that ibility slight the air they have
to
persons
of
that waits little while the door was
it
it
a
a
-
... who never knew how
of to
felt stand the presence
in
its
days
to
its
it
fittest for that action has descended
their
—
superiors Auency speech
of
the stalwart and wellshaped heir who approaches the their
-
... delight music the sure symptom manly tender
of
in
fittest for his days
he
be
and that shall
,
...
.
ness elegance
of
all
The Americans any time upon and native soul their good
of
at
nations
the earth have probably the fullest poetical nature temper and openhandedness the terrible signifi
.
off
their elections
of
The United States emselves are essentially the cance the President's taking
-
.
them not they these too are un
to
to
the history the earth hitherto his hat him
of
greatest poem
In
.
the largest and most stirring appear tame and order rhymed poetry awaits the gigantic and generous
It
.
treatment worthy
of
ly
their ampler largeness and stir

it
to
at
Here last
is
.
.
the nation were mon

or
The largeness
of
something the doings that corresponds nature

of
in
man
the broadcast doings the day and night strous
of
with without corresponding largeness and

a
.
not merely teeming nation generosity the spirit Not nature

of
of
Here nation but the citizen

is
in to is a
.
of
nations Here action untied from strings nor swarming states nor streets and steamships nor
.
necessarily blind particulars and details mag prosperous business nor farms nor capital nor
nificently moving vast masses Here the learning may suffice for the ideal ... nor
of
man
is
,
hospitality which forever indicates heroes .... suffice the poet No reminiscences may suffice
.
Here the roughs and and space and either live nation can always cut deep mark
A
are beards
a
.
ruggedness and nonchalance that the soul loves and can have the best authority the cheapest
.
.
of its
the performance disdaining the trivial unap namely from This

of
Here own soul the sum the

is
.
its
proached the tremendous audacity profitable uses present

of
crowds
or
individuals
of
in
states and
action and grandeur and
its
and groupings and the push perspective the subjects

of
poets.
of
of
spreads with crampless and flowing

As
breadth and trot back generation after

to
were necessary
if
it
As
its
prolific and splendid extravagance generation the beauty

to
showers One the eastern records

if
!
.
of
must indeed own the riches the summer

of
sees and sacredness the demonstrable must fall behind

it
do
bankrupt
be
and winter and need never while corn the mythical

of
that As men not make their

if
,
the orchards drop apples

As
grows from the ground any times the opening

or or
of
of
mark out the

if
!
by
the bays contain fish children upon discovery

or
men beget western continent and what has

women transpired since North and South America
in
were
.
their deputies than the small theatre the antique

of
or
Other states indicate themselves

in
less the
.... but the genius sleepwalking The
of
the United States not best aimless

of
the middle ages

is
!
or its
or its
legislatures pride
or
or
executives nor
in
in
of of
most the United States leaves the wealth and

,
the cities and all returns

of of
or
or or
ambassadors authors colleges churches finesse commerce and

...
its
parlors
all
nor even newspapers inventors agriculture the magnitude geography

or
in
and
,
iv
.... the
by
shows of exterior victory to enjoy the breed of full constitution union always surrounded
fullsized man unconquerable and blatherers and always calm and impregnable
—
sized men or one the
simple .
—
perpetual coming immigrants
of
the wharfhem'd
The American poets are to enclose old and new cities and superior marine — the unsurveyed
for America is the race of races . Of them a bard
-
interior the loghouses and clearings and wild
is to be commensurate with a people . To him the animals and hunters and trappers .... the free
other continents arrive as contributions ... he gives commerce the fisheries and whaling and gold
—
them reception for their and own sake . digging the endless gestation the
of
sake his new states
-
....
his
he
His spirit responds country's spirit convening Congress every December the mem
of
to
,
up
its
all
incarnates geography and natural life and rivers bers duly coming from climates and the
Mississippi parts .... the
of
and lakes with annual freshets and uttermost noble character the
.
all
changing chutes Missouri and Columbia and Ohio young mechanics and
of
free American workmen
,
and Saint Lawrence with the falls and beautiful and workwomen .... the general ardor and friendli
masculine Hudson do not embouchure where they and enterprise the perfect equality
of
ness the
,
spend themselves more than they embouchure into female with the male .... the large amativeness
him the factories
of
The blue breadth over the inland sea the fluid movement the population
of
.
Virginia and Maryland and mercantile life and laborsaving machinery
—
and the sea off Massachusetts the
bay and over Cham
—
and Maine and over Manhattan Yankee swap the New York firemen and the
-
-
-
plain and Erie and over Ontario and Huron and target excursion the southern plantation life
-
Michigan and Superior and over the Texan and
of
of
the character the northeast and the northwest
,
Mexican and Floridian and Cuban seas and over and southwest slavery and the tremulous spread
off
the seas California and Oregon not tallied by ing protect and the stern opposition
to
to
of
hands
is
it
,
,
which shall never cease till
of
the blue breadth the waters below more than the ceases or the
it
it
by
of
breadth above and below tallied him speaking tongues and the moving lips cease
of
of
is
to .
When the long Atlantic coast stretches longer and For the expression
of
such the American poet
is
stretches longer easily stretches
to
he
be transcendant and new be indirect and
It
the Pacific coast
is
.
Its
descriptive quality
or
or
or
with them north south He spans between them not direct epic goes
.
.
to
also from east west and reflects what between through Let the age and
to
is
these much more
.
be
them solid growths
of
On him rise that offset the wars other nations chanted and their eras and
.
pine and cedar and hemlock and liveoak

be
growths characters
of
illustrated and that finish the verse
.
and locust and chestnut and cypress and hickory the great psalm the republic
so
of
Not Here the
.
and limetree and cottonwood and tuliptree and theme creative and has vista Here comes
is
one
.
cactus and wildvine and tamarind and persimmon among the wellbeloved stonecutters and plans with
.... and tangles tangled any decision and science and sees the solid and beautiful
ice or
as
as
canebrake
swamp .... coated with transparent
of
and forests forms the future where there are now no solid
and icicles hanging from the boughs and crackling forms
,
....
and sides and peaks Of all nations the United States with veins
of
the wind mountains

in
.... and pasturage sweet and free poetical

or
as
savannah poets will

of
full stuff most need and

upland .... with flights and songs and doubtless have the use them the
or
prairie greatest and

the wildpigeon greatest Their Presidents shall not be their
of
screams that answer those and

.
Of
highhold and orchard oriole

so
as
and coot and surf duck common referee much their poets shall
-
.
all
and redshouldered hawk and fish hawk and white mankind the great poet the equable man
is
-
ibis and indian hen and cat owl and water pheasant Not him but off from him things are grotesque
in
-
and qua bird and pied sheldrake and blackbird and their sanity Nothing
its or
or
of
of
eccentric fail out

.
-
mockingbird and buzzard and condor and night

its
place good and nothing place bad

in
fit is
is
.
on
To him the hereditary every object pro

its
heron and eagle He bestows quality

or
counte
.
both mother's and father's To portions neither more nor less

of
nance descends He the arbiter

is is
.
the real things and past the key

he
him enter the essences He the equalizer

of
the diverse and

is
....
—
and present the enormous diversity supplies what

he
of
of
events his age

of
and land wants

—
temperature and agriculture and mines the tribes supplying and checks what wants checking
If
.
red aborigines the the spirit

of
weatherbeaten
of
vessels him speaks

of
peace
-
the routine out

is
entering ports making landings rocky thrifty building popu

on
or
new peace large rich vast and

,
the first settlements north the

or
coasts south lous cities encouraging agriculture and the arts and
,
rapid stature and muscle the haughty man the soul im

— —
lighting the study

of
of
defiance commerce
,
and the war and peace

of
and formation the mortality municipal government

or
'76 federal state

,
,
V
marriage , health , freetrade , intertravel by land and others are as good as he , only he sees it and they do
.... nothing ... ....
sea
far
he
of
nothing too not He not one the chorus does not
off
is
too close
.
,
...
for
In
the stars not too far off war he the most stop any regulations the president
he
he of
is
is
.
deadly force Who recruits him recruits regulation the eyesight does
of
the war
to
What the rest
.
...
.
he
parks artillery
to
the rest Who knows the curious mystery
of
horse and foot fetches the does
.
eyesight The other
of
best that engineer ever knew the time becomes the senses corroborate
If
?
.
and heavy ... removed from any proof but
he
to
slothful knows how arouse themselves but this
is
it
,
its
every the spiritual
he
he
speaks
of
can make word draw blood own and foreruns the identities
all
or
stagnates
of
Whatever the flat custom obedi- the investi
he in
single glance
of
world mocks
of A
it
.
all
ence legislation stagnates gations
of
or
never Obedience man and the instruments and books
up
High
he
all
he of
does not master him masters out the earth and reasoning What marvellous
it
is
,
or ?
.
.
stands turning concentrated light ... unlikely impossible
he
or
reach what what baseless
is
is
a
?
...
he
turns the pivot with his finger baffles the vague after you have once just opened the space
?
stands and easily overtakes peachpit and given audience
he
to
as
of
swiftest runners far and near
all
and envelops them The time straying toward things enter with
to
and the sunset and had
.
infidelity and confections and persiflage electric swiftness softly and duly without
he
withholds confusion
... ...
he by
his steady faith jostling jam
or
or
he
spreads
out his dishes
.
offers the sweet firmfibred meat that grows men The land and sea the animals fishes and birds
,
and women His brain the ultimate brain He the sky
of
heaven and the orbs the forests mountains
is
,
.
.
no arguer he judgment He judges not but folks expect

is
as and rivers are not small themes

is
.
.
judge judges the sun falling around than the beauty and
to
as
the poet
of
the but indicate more
a
he
he
helpless thing As sees the farthest has the dignity always attach dumb real objects
to
which
.
His thoughts are the hymns .... they indicate the path between
to
the praise
of
most faith expect him

.
things the soul and eternity and reality and their souls
on
In
of
the talk Men and women perceive

.
.
He sees
off
his equal plane the beauty well enough probably

he
he
of
as
as
God silent well
..
is
.
eternity play The passionate tenacity early
of
less like with prologue and de- hunters woodmen
a
in a
,
....
he
nouement sees eternity men and women risers cultivators gardens and orchards and fields
of
,
,
... healthy women for the manly form sea
he
or
as
of
does not see men and women dreams the love
,
...
of for
Faith antiseptic faring persons passion
all of
per- drivers the
of
dots the the soul horses

is
it
,
.
... light and the open air
an
vades the common people and preserves them old varied sign
is
,
up
they never give believing and expecting and the unfailing perception beauty and
of
of
residence
a
trusting and poetic They can never
of
that indescribable the
be
There
in
freshness outdoor people

is
.
... some
by
about an illiterate person that poets perceive may but they

to
unconsciousness assisted
humbles and mocks the power the noblest ex never can The poetic quality
of
not marshalled
in
is
.
genius certainty how rhyme uniformity things

or
or
to
pressive The poet sees for abstract addresses
a
.
great artist may just melancholy complaints

be
as
and nor
or
in
one not sacred good precepts but

as a
,
artist ... The power
of
perfect the life and much else and the soul

in
greatest
is
the these
is
a .
.
destroy freely used by him but profit rhyme drops seeds

or
to
remould
of
of
The that
is
is
it
never the power past past and more luxuriant rhyme and
of
of
attack What sweeter uniform

is
is
,
.
ity that
its
superior and prove conveys itself into

he
own roots the

in
not expose
If
does models
it
by
every step
of he
he
takes not what ground out sight The rhyme and uniformity
of
of
himself
is
is
wanted The presence conquers perfect the free growth

of
the greatest poet poems show metrical

.
... not parleying struggling any laws and bud from them unerringly and loosely
as
or
or
prepared
on
attempts way see after

or
he
as
passed lilacs bush and take shapes

as
Now has that roses com

a
,
.
not left any despair pact

or
vestige
of
him there
as
the shapes chestnuts and oranges and

of
is
!
cunning and shed the perfume impalpable

or
misanthropy the
or
melons and pears

or
exclusiveness
,
Auency and ornaments

or
ignominy nativity
or
to
of
or
delusion
of
color The
of
hell form the finest

a
.....
no
or
or
or
poems
of
the necessity hell and man thencefor- music orations recitations are not
for ignorance
be
independent but dependent All beauty

or
ward shall degraded weakness comes from

.
or sin beautiful blood and beautiful brain great

If
the
a
.
hardly knows pettiness conjunction

or
triv-
or
in
in
The greatest poet nesses are man woman

is
a
it
breathes into any thing that was the

he
iality enough prevail through

If
fact will the

.
before thought small dilates with the grandeur .... but

the gaggery and gilt
of
universe million
it
.... he
a
of
and life the universe He seer years will not prevail Who troubles himself about
is
is
a
.
.... the
.
...
he
complete fluency This what you

or
individual himself
in
his ornaments lost

is
is
is
.
vi
shall do : Love the earth and sun and the animals , not only the committees that were
in
to
supposed
despise riches , give alms to every one that asks , stand for the rest but just the
in
the rest themselves
stand up for the stupid and crazy , devote your same These understand the law perfection
of
in
.
... that
its
income and labor to others , hate tyrants , argue
to
not and finish for
is
masses floods each
concerning God , have patience and indulgence itself and onward from itself ... that profuse
is
it
...
off
your nothing
to
toward the people , take hat and impartial
of
that there not minute the
is
a
an
or any man light
or
or
to
of
or
or
known unknown number
of
dark nor acre the earth sea without
go
freely
with powerful uneducated persons nor any direction the sky nor any trade
of
it
or
men
-
,
young employment This
of
and with the and with the mothers families nor any turn the
of
is
events
.
the open air every season that about the proper expression
in
read beauty
of
these leaves
of
reason
...
all
your you have precision and balance one part does not
re
every year life there
of
examine
to is
,
-
any book dismiss
be
or
or
at
been told church thrust above
in
school need another The best singer
is
,
.
whatever insults your own soul and your very not the one who has the most lithe and powerful
,
organ ... the
be
great poem poems
of
not them that
in
flesh shall and have the richest pleasure
is
a
its
fluency not only the silent lines take the handsomest measure and similes and sound
in
words but
in
.
its
lips and face and between the lashes your Without effort and without exposing
of
of
the least
in
every motion and joint your body how the greatest poet brings the spirit
of
is
eyes and done
in
of
it
in .
all
any
or
The poet shall not spend his time events and passions and scenes and
He shall know that the ground your
on
work
or to
unneeded persons some and some less
more bear
is
....
.
always ready ploughed and manured others individual you hear To do
as
character read
.
go
may not know directly

he
to
but shall He shall this well compete with the laws that pursue and
is
it
follow time
to
all of
the creation His trust shall master the trust the purpose must surely
be
What
is
.
.
everything ....and .... and the
be
he
shall
of
touches master there and the clue must there
it
attachment faintest indication the indication
of
the best and
is
.
The known universe has one complete lover and then becomes the clearest indication Past and
.'
disjoined joined
an
that the greatest poet He consumes eternal present and future are not but
is
.
.
The greatest poet forms the consistence
of
passion and indifferent which chance happens what
is
is
contingency to be from what has been and He drags the

or
of
and which possible fortune mis
is
.
daily and hourly his delicious and stands them again on
of
fortune and persuades dead out their coffins

balks or breaks others fuel for his ....
he
pay What their feet says to the past Rise and walk
is
,
.
burning progress contact and amorous joy Other me that may realize you He learns the
to
before
I
.
.
....
to
he
proportions the reception pleasure dwindle places

of
himself the future

of
lesson where
All
his
nothing proportions expected from present The greatest poet not only
to
becomes does
.
he .
rapport with dazzle rays over character and and

or
heaven from the highest the his scenes

in
is
... ...
he
all
sight the daybreak finally
of
winter woods
or
passions
of
scene the ascends and finishes

a
children playing with his arm exhibits the pinnacles that

or
he
no
man can tell what

of of
or
the presence
His love above
he
they are for beyond glows

or
or
round the neck man woman what

is
a
a
.
.
all love has leisure and expanse he leaves moment on the extremest verge He most
is
...
.
or
or
no irresolute
of
himself He sus wonderful his last half hidden smile frown

in
room ahead
is
-
.
... ...
by
he
he
picious scorns intervals that flash parting the one that

of
the moment
of
lover sure
is
be
not
or
His experience and the showers and thrills are sees shall encouraged terrified afterwards for
it
....
him
for nothing Nothing can jar suffering many years The greatest poet does not moralize
...
.
and darkness cannot — death and fear cannot To applications

he
or
of
make morals knows the

.
him complaint and jealousy and envy are corpses soul The soul has that measureless pride which
.
....
he
its its
buried and rotten the earth saw them never acknowledging any lessons but
in
in
consists
or
of
buried The sea not surer the shore the own has sympathy
as
as
But
is
measureless
it
.
.
he
pride and the one balances the other and neither

of
his love
of
the fruition
of
shore the sea than

is
all
perfection and beauty can stretch too far while company

in
of
and stretches
it
.
beauty
no
or
art sleep with

of
of
is of
The fruition chance hit miss with the other The inmost secrets
is
....
.
life and
as
inevitable exact the twain The greatest poet has lain close betwixt
it
as is
it
.
.
.
plumb gravitation eyesight proceeds both and they are vital his style and thoughts
in
From the
.
.
eyesight and from the hearing glory expression

of
of
another proceeds The art art the and the

,
hearing and from the voice proceeds light simplicity No

of
of
another sunshine the letters

is
eternally the harmony thing simplicity .... nothing

of
of
another voice curious better than can

is
To perfections up for excess

or
of
things with man these respond make for the lack definiteness
.
.
vii
To carry on the heave of impulse and pierce intel- do you think is the grandeur of storms and dismem
all
lectual depths and give subjects their articula- berments and the deadliest battles and wrecks and
tions are powers neither common nor very uncom the wildest fury
of
the elements and the power
of
mon . But
of
of
literature with the perfect the sea and the motion nature and the throes
to
speak
in
rectitude and insousiance and dignity
of
the
of
movements
of
human desires and hate and love
?
animals and the unimpeachableness that something Rage
of
the soul which says
It
in
the sentiment
is
,
by
on
on
the woods and grass Whirl tread master here and everywhere
of
the roadside
in
trees
of on is
of ,
I
triumph you have looked the spasms the sky and
of
of
of
of
the flawless art Master the shatter
If
.
the sea , Master
on
you have looked
of
him who has achieved one nature and passion and death
it
,
all
all
all
And pain
of
terror and
of
of
the masters the artists nations and times
be
You shall not contemplate the flight the graygull The American bards shall marked for generos
of
over the bay ity and affection and for encouraging competitors
on of
or
the mettlesome action the blood
.
.
They shall
be
the tall leaning monopoly
or
kosmos
or
of
horse sunflowers their stalk without secre
.
.
..
sy
the appearance the sun journeying through glad pass any thing any one hungry for
to
to
or
of
.
be .
the appearance equals night and day They shall not
or
of
of
heaven the moon afterward careful
.
they shall
be
with any more satisfaction than you shall contem- riches and privilege riches and
.... they
.
plate him The greatest poet has less a marked privilege shall perceive who the most
.
he
style and thoughts and things affluent man The most affluent man that
of
is
is
more the channel
is
by
all
he
confronts the shows equivalents out
or
of
without increase diminution and the free sees
is
to ,
the stronger wealth
of
of
channel himself He swears his art will not himself The American bard
,
I
.
.
no
shall delineate
of
my writing any persons
be
or
will not have class nor one two
in
meddlesome
,
I
of
of
originality the way out the strata interests nor love most nor truth
or
or
to
elegance hang
in
effect
between me and the rest like curtains will have most nor the soul most nor the body most .... and
I
.
nothing hang the way not the richest curtains not be for the eastern states more than the western
in
or
What tell tell for precisely what Let who the northern states more than the southern
is
it
.
I
or I
its
no
may exalt practical movements are
or
Exact science
or
startle fascinate sooth will have and

I
be
on
or as
or
snow has and but always his encour

or
heat
as
purposes health checks the greatest poet
regardless nent and support The outset and remembrance

of
observation What experience

.
.
I
..
go
portray shall from my composition without are there there the arms that lifted him first and
a
You shall stand by my ....
all
he
my composition him best returns after his
of
shred brace there

.
side and look the mirror with me goings and comings The sailor and traveler the
in
.
.
.
The old red blood and stainless gentility great anatomist chemist astronomer geologist phrenolo
of
his by
gist spiritualist
A
proved lexi
be
poets will their unconstraint mathematician historian and

.
ease through and out cographer are not poets but they are the lawgivers
at
heroic person
of
walks
,
authority that suits him

or
or
precedent poets
of
that custom and their construction underlies the struc

not Of the traits every perfect poem No matter what rises
of
of
the brotherhood writers

of
ture
.
uttered they sent the seed the conception

or
inventors and artists nothing

of
of
savans musicians
is
is
...
by
of
finer than silent defiance advancing from new free them and them stand the visible proofs
of it
.... always
be
forms philosophy politics
of
souls their fatherstuff must

In
poems
of
the need
,
.
begotten the sinewy races

an
of
bards there shall

If
of
mechanism science behaviour the craft art

,
.
be
appropriate grand shipcraft any love and content between the father and the son
or
native pera
,
,
-o
the exuding
he
craft greatest forever and forever who contri- the greatness

of
of
and the son the

is
if
is
,
be
original practical greatness

of
butes the greatest example The the father there shall love between
.
no
expression sphere
In
that which finds the poet and the man

of
cleanest demonstrable science

is
worthy the beauty poems are the tuft and final applause
of
of
itself and makes one

.
of
great poets
to
man and science

of
The messages each

.
on
woman are equal terms Only then Great the faith knowledge and
of
to
the flush
of
us
of
Come
is
,
can you understand better than you investigation depths qualities

no
of
of
us
We are the the and

,
What we enclose you enclose What we enjoy you things Cleaving and circling here swells the soul
,
only
be
may enjoy Did you suppose there could the poet yet president itself always
of
of
The
it
.
depths are
be
one Supreme We affirm there can unnumbered fathomless and therefore calm The
...
?
Supremes and that one does not countervail another innocence and nakedness are resumed they are
,
any more than one eyesight countervails another .. neither modest nor immodest The whole theory
of
.
all
grand only and supernatural and

be
or
good the special

of
and that men can the con- that was twined

departs
or
supremacy within with out

of
as
of
their What educed dream

it
sciousness them
it
.
.
viii
What has ever happened .... what happens and horrify despots. The turn of their necks , the sound
whatever may or shall happen , the vital laws of their feet , the motions of their wrists , are full of
....
all
they are sufficent for any case and
to
hazard Come nigh
to
enclose the one and hope the other
.
... ....
all
be
them awhile and though they neither speak
or
or to
for hurried retarded
or
cases none advise
any miracle persons inadmissible you shall learn the faithful American lesson Liberty
of
affairs the
in
.
or by
vast clear scheme where every motion and every poorly served men whose good intent quelled
is
is
spear and spirits any number
or
grass from one failure
of
of
and the frames two failures
of
men
all
and and that them un
or
failures from the casual indifference ingratitude
or
women concerns are
,
all
all
speakably perfect miracles referring from the sharp show
or
to
the people
of
of
or of
and the tushes
,
its
the bringing
It
distinct and not
or
in
to
each place also power bear soldiers and cannon
is
,
.
consistent with the reality any penal statutes Liberty upon
to
of
the soul admit that relies itself
,
anything one promises nothing
no
there the known universe divine
in
invites sits and
in
more calmness
is
,
than men and women light positive and composed
no
and knows dis
is
.
,
all
Men and women and the earth and upon are couragement The battle rages with many loud
it
a
.
simply they are and the investigation alarm and frequent .... the
be
to
as
taken advance and retreat

,
their past and present and future shall enemy triumphs .... the prison the handcuffs
be
of
unin- the
,
with perfect candor
be
termitted and shall done iron necklace and anklet the scaffold garrote and
,
.
Upon philosophy looking .... the cause ...
do
this basis speculates ever leadballs their work asleep
is
toward the poet regarding the eternal tenden-
ever the strong throats are choked with their own blood
,
all
toward happiness never inconsistent with the young men drop their eyelashes toward the
is of
cies
For the ....
to
to
what clear the senses and the soul ground when they pass each other and liberty
is
.
all
toward happiness make No When liberty

of
eternal tendencies the gone that place
of
out never
.
go
only point philosophy Whatever
or
to
to
goes
of
sane com- not the first nor the second third

is
it
... whatever
.
go
all
prehends less than that go
to
less than the waits for the rest
..
it the last
is
is
it
.
light and ... When the memories the old martyrs are faded
of
or
of
of
laws astronomical motion less

utterly away when the large patriots
of
than the laws that follow the thief the liar the names
glutton through are laughed the public halls from the lips
at
of
and the drunkard this life and in the
doubtless afterward ...... than vast .... when the boys are
or
no
less orators more christened
density after the tyrants and
or
but
of
no of
stretches time the slow formation same christened after

...
—
the patient upheaving traitors
of
the laws the free are
or
instead when
of
of
strata
-
account
,
is
or of .
Whatever would put God grudgingly permitted

or
poem system and

and laws for informers
in
a
philosophy contending against being bloodmoney are sweet ....

to
as
the people
of
some the taste
of
influence also no account Sanity and when and you walk abroad upon the earth stung
is
characterise the great master ... spoilt compassion the sight

at
of
with numberless brothers

in
ensemble
all
principle spoilt answering our equal friendship and calling
no
one The great master has man
is
nothing
—
do
He sees health joy

to
with miracles
at
master and when we are elated with noble
.
for himself being one he sees the .... the sight .... when
in
of
of
the mass slaves the soul retires its in the

singular eminence To the perfect shape cool communion the night and surveys
of
hiatus ex
in
common ground To
be
comes under the general perience and has much extasy over the word and deed
.
for
correspond with that put back helpless innocent person into the
to
law great that The

is
he is
it
a
.
unspeakably gripe the gripers into any cruel inferiority

all or
great
of
master knows that and

is
.... that .... parts

all
unspeakably nothing for

of
when those these states who

in
that are great

greater than could realize the true American character
to
instance conceive children and easier

is
... that
up
not yet cringers

do
bring them just great suck

be
of
to
but when the swarms

as
as
well
is
sly ,
ers
perceive doughfaces politics planners

or
invo
to
tell
of
of
lice
,
,
.
for their own preferment city

In
or
or to
the great
of
of
the make masters the idea lutions offices

political liberty indispensible Liberty state legislatures the judiciary
or
or
takes the congress the

is
presidency obtain
of
wherever men and women exist response

of
adherence heroes love and natural

a
,
.... but they

or
never takes any adherence welcome from deference from the people whether get the
....
be
to
They are the voice better bound

or
the rest more than from poets offices no

it
when
at is
a
.
and exposition liberty They booby and rogue high salary than the
of
in
out ages
of
are office
a
....
.
worthy the grand farmer with his hat unmoved

or
them confided poorest free mechanic

to
idea
is
it
and they must sustain Nothing has precedence from his head and firm eyes and candid and generous
it
a
.
and nothing can warp The atti- .... and when servility by town
or
or
or
of
degrade heart state

it
it
.
up
great government any oppression

on
or
to
poets large
of
tude cheer slaves and the federal

is
a
ix
scale or small scale can be tried on without its own completion
to
and are necessary
of
the the work
it
.
punishment following duly after in exact proportion Most works are most beautiful without ornament
..
....
.
against the smallest chance of escape Exaggerations will human physiology
be
or rather revenged
in
.
when all life and all the souls of men and women are Clean and vigorous children are jetted and conceived
discharged from any part of the earth then only only
of
those communities where the models natural
in
shall the instinct of liberty be discharged from that forms are public every day .... Great genius and
.
part of the earth .
be
to
the people
of
these states must never demeaned
con As soon properly
of as
As the attributes of the poets of the kosmos romances histories are told
.
centre in the real body and soul and in the pleasure there no more need romances
is
by
of things they possess the superiority of genuineness great poets
by be
to
The are also known the
over all fiction and romance . As they emit them the justification
of
in
absence them tricks and
.... the
light perfect personal
of
selves facts are showered over with candor Then folks echo new
a
.... the
.
daylight light cheap joy and divine voice leaping from their
lit
is with more volatile also
a
deep the setting and rising sun goes deeper brains How beautiful candor All faults may
is
between
!
many fold Each precise object forgiven him who has perfect candor
be
Hence
or
or
of
condition com
.
or .
.... the multi
no
forth let
us
lie
of
bination process exhibits beauty man for we have seen that open
,
a
ness wins the inner and outer world and that there
its
its
—
plication table old age the carpenter's

.... the
its
at its
hugehulled exception and that never since our earth
no
trade the grand pera single
—
is
,
-o
New York clipper or

gathered subterfuge
or
itself
or
cleanshaped
in
sea under steam mass have deceit
a
-
.... the
its
beauty prevarication smallest particle
or
full sail gleams
with unmatched attracted the
American circles and large harmonies government faintest tinge and that through the
en
of
of
shade
-
.... veloping wealth and rank
or
gleam
of
with theirs and the commonest definite state the whole
a
intentions and actions with theirs The poets republic sly person
be
of
or
of
the states sneak shall
a
.
....
all
kosmos advance through

interpositions and cover discovered and despised and that the soul has
....
be
ings and turmoils and stratagems first principles and never can
to
never been once fooled fooled
.... they
its .
They are dissolve poverty from and thrift without the loving nod only
of
the soul
of
use
in is
.... and
up
need and riches from its conceit You large pro fætid puff there never grew any
of a
.
prietor they say the continents he globe nor upon any planet
or
or
shall not realize perceive more

any one else nor upon the asteroids any
or
than The owner the library satellite star

of
nor
in
,
,
.
he
having bought part density

to
not who holds legal title space

of
of
nor in the midst
is
ethereal
it
a
,
and paid for Any one and every one nor under the fluid wet the sea nor that con
in
of
of
owner
it
is
,
.
all
the library who can read the same through the dition which precedes the birth any
of
nor
at
babes
,
tongues and subjects and styles and time during the changes
of
varieties nor that condition

in
of
life
in
,
,
we
whom they enter with ease and take residence and that follows what term death nor any stretch
in
,
paternity maternity vitality

or
force toward and and abeyance

of
of
action afterward nor
in
make
,
supple and powerful and rich and large any process reformation anywhere
or
of
formation
a
,
.
These American states strong and healthy and

ac
being whose instinct hated the truth

.
complished shall receive

no
pleasure from violations prudence the soundest organic

or
Extreme caution
,
for
not permit them

or In
and comparison and fondness

of
natural models and must health large hope

,
.
paintings mouldings carvings de

or
or
mineral and children large alimentiveness

in or in
women and
,
structiveness and causality

or
wood
in
the illustrations perfect

of
with
of
books newspapers sense

,
a
,
,
any comic tragic prints the patterns nature and the propriety
of or
or or
or
in
of
of
the oneness the same

to ,
..
of up
any thing beautify spirit applied

to
to or or
woven stuffs rooms human affairs these are called

put upon cornices parts
or
or
to
be
to
furniture
of
of
costumes float the brain the world

of
the
,
the prows ships

on
or
or
or
the greatest poet

of
of
monuments sterns from his birth out his mother's

,
put anywhere before

of
womb and from birth out her mother's

or
the human eye indoors out her

,
.
It
that which distorts Caution goes

or
honest shapes which creates seldom far enough has been

.
unearthly contingencies thought prudent

or
or
beings places that the citizen was the citizen

is
a
Of
the human form especially who applied himself gains and did well
to
nuisance and revolt solid

.
great family completed

be
Of
so
must never made ridiculous for himself and his and

it
is
it
a
.
or
work nothing outre can lawful life without debt crime

be
poet
to
ornaments allowed The greatest

..
a
as
but those ornaments can be allowed that conform sees and admits these economies he sees the
the perfect facts but has higher notions
of to
the open air and that flow out food and sleep
of
of
of
economies
,
the work and come irrepressibly from prudence than gives much when gives
he
he
the nature
of
to
think
X
a few slight attentions at the latch of the gate . The not any harshness of officers to men or judges to
premises of the prudence of life are not the hospital . prisoners or fathersto sons or sons to fathers or
ity of it or the ripeness and harvest of it . Beyond husbands to wives or bosses to their boys . . not of
the independence of a little sum laid aside for burial- greedy looks or malignant wishes ... nor any of
money , and of a few clapboards around and shingles the wiles practised by people upon themselves ...
overhead on a lot of American soil owned , and the ever is or ever can be stamped on the programme but
easy dollars that supply the year's plain clothing and it is duly realized and returned , and that returned in
meals , the melancholy prudence of the abandonment further performances .. and they returned again .
of such a great being as a man is to the toss and Nor can the push of charity or personal force ever be
all
pallor of years of moneymaking with their scorch- any thing else than the profoundest reason > whether
,
all
ing days and icy nights and their stilling deceits brings arguments
no
No specification
or
to
hand
it
or .
and underhanded dodgings vain
or
or
in
to
divide
.. of
infinitessimals necessary add subtract
..
is
is
,
.
parlors stuffing while others starve Little big
or
or
or
or
shameless learned unlearned white black
,
,
,
of
of
and all the loss the bloom and odor the earth illegal well from the first inspiration
or
to or
legal sick
,
and the flowers and atmosphere and the sea and down the windpipe expiration out
of
of
of
the last
it,
and men you pass
all
of
the true taste vigorous and

of
or
the women
or
that male female does that
is
a
youth much sure profit
do
so
benevolent and clean
or
to
to
have with middle age and the
in
him
is
,
or
of
the unshakable order and
in
issuing sickness
at
of
and desperate revolt the close her the universe
a
and the ghastly through the whole scope
or
the savage
of
life without elevation naivete forever
If
it
,
....
.
or
without serenity majesty well
or
felon wise the greatest poet
or
of
chatter the
is
is
it
if
death is
a
great fraud upon modern civilization and fore- savan wise simply the same the President
if
is
is
it
.
.
thought blotching the surface chief justice ...
or
and system which wise the same the young
is
is
it
or if
,
or
civilization undeniably drafts and moistening with mechanic farmer wise no more less
is
it
is
if
,
.
.
spreads and spreads with the prostitute
no
tears the immense features wise nor less
more The
it
is
is
it
..
.
velocity before the reached kisses the soul ... interest will come round all will come round All
be of
such
all .
Still the right explanation remains the ...
of
actions help
to
made about best and war peace

given relatives and strangers and the poor and old
to
of
prudence The prudence the mere wealth and

.
respectability life appears and sorrowful and young children and widows and
of
the most esteemed too

all
of all
all
at at
to
to
faint for the eye observe when little and the sick and shunned persons furtherance
,
.
.
all
alike drop quietly aside the thought fugitives and the escape self
of
of
large
of
the slaves the
.
.
for
on
prudence suitable immortality What wisdom denial that stood steady and aloof wrecks and saw
is
...
or .
that fills the thinness year seventy eighty others take the seats all offering
of
of
the boats
or
of
a
by
ages and coming back

or
substance life for the good
of or
old cause
to
years wisdom spaced out for
a
,
certain time with strong reinforcements and rich opinion's sake pains ... all
or
at
friend's sake enthu

a
by
all
their neighbors
at
as
wedding guests the vast

of
presents and the clear faces far siasts scoffed

-
.
.
gaily ...
all
you can every direction running precious suffering
of
mothers
in
as
look sweet love and

....
all
Only the soul

or
of
strifes recorded unrecorded

in
toward you itself else honest men baffled

is
?
All that .... all the

to
has what grandeur and good

of
reference ensues person the few ancient

a
.
we
nations whose fragments

of
or or
consequence annals inherit and

of
thinks Not
..
does move can
is
a
or a
.
all
day the good far mightier and more

of
of
the hundreds
in
man woman make that affects him her

or a
by
any part the

or
to
of
the direct lifetime ancient nations unknown

or
us
or
or
month name date

a
....
all
or
manfully
of
hour death but the same affects him her onward location that was ever begun
,
The in- all that has

or
whether any
at
through the indirect lifetime succeeded not

it
afterward
.
always great and real

as
the direct The

as
time been well suggested

of
of
direct out the divine heart

is
by
by
spirit receives from the body just the divinity the shaping
or
or
as
as
gives
of
much man his mouth

it
his
of all
the body well thought

or
or of of to
or
of
Not one name word not great

of
hands that
..
deed and
is
.
.
.
not the privacy done this day any part

on
or
discolorations the globe

of
venereal sores the surface

.
.
or to by
..
the putrid veins gluttons any the wandering stars

or
on
stars
or
of
of
the onanist not

of
..
fixed
..
or
as
rumdrinkers peculation cunning that henceforth

or
those there we are here

or
not
is
.
by
betrayal serpentine poison thought you whoever you are

be
no
or
or
of
murder well
..
those done
,
—
that yielding by any one these singly and wholly inured

to at
seduce women not the foolish their

of of
.
not prostitution any depravity time and inure now and will inure always
of
women not the

.
.
.
.
by
gain identities from which they sprung shall spring

of
young men dis-

or
of
not attainment
..
..
the
.
its
creditable means not any nastiness appetite you any lived only mo
of
guess them
of
Did
..
xi
ment ? The world does not so exist .. no parts pal- planes of thought and judgment and behaviour fixed
pable or impalpable so exist no result exists ... now him or his so that either can be looked down upon ?
its
without being from long antecedent result and Have the marches and hundreds and thous
of
tens
,
its
willing detours the right hand
so
to
that from and backward without years
of
antecedent ands made
,
mentionable spot coming long
he
the farthest bit nearer and the left hand for his sake
Is
beloved
?
the beginning than any other spot Whatever and long after
he
buried Does the young man
is
?
.
satisfies the soul truth prudence the think and the young woman think
of
The often him
of
is
?
.
the craving and glut
do
of
at
of of
greatest poet answers last often him and the middleaged and the old
?
not contemptuous less ways prudence think him
of
of
the soul
is
?
,
its
they conform ways puts
off
nothing permits for ages and ages common and
to
as all in
great poem
A
if
is
or ,
,
up
or its
any case partic-

let
all
no
no
for own case has for degrees and complexions and departments
,
-
and sects and for
as
ular sabbath judgment ay divides not the living woman much man and
a
,
-d
as
as
no
the righteous from the unrighteous woman
or
from the dead man much great poem finish
is
a
,
.
with the present every thought beginning Has
or
to
satisfied matches woman but rather
or is
man
,
.
or by
sit
any one fancied
its
he
at
act correlative knows no possible for- could last under some due
,
deputed atonement knows that the authority explanations

..
giveness and rest satisfied with and

To
be
his
young man who composedly periled life and lost realize and content and full no such ter
it
he
has done exceeding well for himself while the man minus does the greatest poet bring brings
,
not periled his life and retains The
or
to
who has old neither cessation sheltered fatness and ease
it
.
of
age and ease has perhaps nothing touch him tells action Whom he takes he
in
in
riches achieved
.
for himself worth mentioning • and that only that takes with firm sure grasp into live regions previously
..
.... ....
no
learn who has learnt they
to
no
person has great prudence unattained thenceforward rest
is
longlived things and favors body and see the space and ineffable sheen that turn the old
to
prefer real
,
soul the same and perceives the indirect assuredly spots and lights into dead vacuums The com
,
.
following the direct and what evil panion
he
or
good him beholds the birth and progress
of
stars
of
does
,
leaping onward and waiting

to
meet him again and meanings

of
and learns one the Now there shall
.... the
.
be
of
who his spirit any emergency whatever neither out tumult and chaos
in
man cohered
in
the younger and shows him how ...

or
hurries avoids death elder encourages

.
till
be
The direct trial

he of
him who would the greatest they two shall launch fearlessly together off
the
poet today does not flood himself with the new world fits an orbit for itself and looks unabashed
If
is
..... and
on
the lesser orbits stars and sweeps through

of
as
immediate age with vast oceanic tides the

bady
he
does not attract his own land and the ceaseless rings and shall never be quiet again
if
.
its
himself and hang

on
more priests
to
be
no
soul neck with incom- There will soon Their work
is
.
its
parable love and plunge his semitic musclė into done They may wait awhile perhaps generation a
... and
.
.
.
by
he
be
merits and demerits not himself the superior breed

off
dropping degrees
or
two
if
A
.
.... and
.
.
age transfigured him not opened the shall take their place .... the gangs and
to
of
kosmos
is
if
all
eternity gives similitude periods and

A
prophets shall take their place
to
en
which masse new

.
order shall arise and they shall

be
locations and processes and animate and inanimate the priests

of
man
,
up
his own priest

be
and every man shall The churches

of
forms and which the bond time and rises

is
,
.
its
be
from inconceivable vagueness and infiniteness under their umbrage shall

of
in
built the churches

by
the swimming today Through the divinity

of
shape
of
and held the men and women themselves

is
,
ductile anchors and makes the present spot the

of
be
poets inter
of
life shall the kosmos and the new breed

,
be
and
of
preters all events

to
what shall and commits and

of
passage from what was men and women

,
the representation things They inspiration

an
shall find their

to
real
of
of
in
itself this wave hour

.
the sixty beautiful children objects today symptoms the past and future ....
of
of
of
and this one the

,
let
wave They shall not deign defend immortality

or
or
to
him merge the general run and God

in
-
wait his developement Still the final test the perfection things liberty the exquisite
or
or
of
.
any character beauty and reality They shall arise

or
The
or
of in
poems work remains

of
of
the soul
.
.
be
prescient poet projects himself centuries ahead and

to
America and responded from the remainder

judges performer performance after the changes the earth
or
of
time Does live through them Does still hold The English language befriends the grand Ameri
it
it
?
.
....
no of on
untired Will the same style and the direction can expression brawny enough and limber
is
it
to ?
genius similar points satisfactory now On the tough stock

be
of
Has and full enough race who

a
?
.
all
discovery superior through circumstances was never with

or
at
change
of
arrival
in
new science
xii
out the idea of political liberty , which is the animus slavery at nought for life and death ? Will it help
all
liberty and wellhung man and
of
of has attracted the terms daintier goodshaped
it
breed one
a
,
and gayer and subtler and more elegant his perfect and independent mate
be
to
tongues woman
It
of ?
of is .
powerful ... the improve manners for the nursing
Is
of
language Does
it
the resistance
it
it
is
?
of
dialect common sense the speech the the young the republic readily
of
Does solve
It
of it
is
?
.
all
proud and melancholy races who aspire the nipples
of
of
of
and with the sweet milk the breasts
.
tongue growth faith self- many children
to
express
of
the chosen the mother Has too the old
It
it
is
?
freedom justice equality ampli- impartiality Does
it
esteem friendliness ever fresh forbearance and
?
-
It
tude prudence decision and courage the me- look with the same love on the last born and on
is
.
dium that shall well nigh express the inexpressible hardening toward stature and
of on
those the errant
,
.
No great literature nor any like style
all
strength
of
of on
behaviour and those who disdain assault out
oratory their own
or
or
or or
social intercourse household arrange- side
?
or or or by
public The poems distilled from other poems will probably
or of of or
ments institutions the treatment

bosses employed people nor executive detail pass away The coward will surely pass away The
,
.
the army navy nor spirit legislation expectation great only
be
or
of
detail the vital and
of
can
,
by
police and great
or
or
or
courts tuition architecture songs
of
satisfied the demeanor the vital
.
young men long the polished deprecating and reflect
or
of
of
amusements the costumes can The swarms
of ,
off
elude the jealous and passionate ors and the polite float
no
instinct American and leave remem
no
appears from
or
standards Whether the sign brance America prepares with composure and
.
for
the mouths the people throbs live interroga- goodwill visitors that have sent word
of
the
It
is
it
a
,
.
be
every
to
tion and freewoman's heart after not intellect that their warrant and welcome
in
freeman's
is
.
by
ingenious
to
or
passes this built remain The talented artist the editor

Is
that which the the

it
,
.
its
uniform with my country the statesman the erudite they are not unappreci
..
Are disposals without
,
?
ignominious for the evergrowing they fall
do
ated their place their work
in
distinctions
.. and
Is
it
?
.
No dis
of
large The soul nation also does its work
of
communes brothers and lovers well united the

,
all ,
.
-
no
proud beyond the old models beyond
on
pass disguise from
..
generous guise can can conceal
it
,
all
models something grown fresh rejects none permits Only toward
as
it
It
of
out the
or ?
it
Is
.
it
.
me today here
to
itself and toward the like itself will

as
drawn from the sea for use good
as of
it
fields
?
know that what answers for me an American must advance half way An individual superb
as
is
I
a
-
answer for any individual the qualities

or
he
nation that serves for nation when has which make

of it a
a
part my materials
or
superb nation and wealthi

is
of
Does this answer The soul of the largest

?
.
.
to
go
without universal needs sprung est and proudest nation may well half way
or
reference
to
meet
?
-
of its
society poets The signs

of
developed special
of
by of
the needs the less that are effectual There
is
.
.
no
ranks
or
pleasure mistake the one true the other

of
old needs overlaid

If
modern fear
is
is
?
of .
science and forms Does this acknowledge liberty true The proof poet that his country absorbs
is
?
a
.
with audible and absolute acknowledgement

he
affectionately
as
and set
as
him has absorbed

it
,
.
Leaves of Grass .
I CELEBRATE myself ,
I assume you shall assume,
And what
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you .
I loafe and invite my soul,

I lean and loafe at my ease observing a spear of summer grass .
Houses and rooms are full of perfumes ....

the shelves are crowded with perfumes ,
I breathe the fragrance myself , and know it and like it ,
The distillation would intoxicate me also , but I shall not
let
it
.
The atmosphere perfume .... ....

no
of
not has taste the distillation
it
is
is
it
a
odorless
,
for my mouth forever .... am love with

I I It
in
is
it
I
,
by
go
will undisguised and naked

to
the bank the wood and become

,
in
to
am mad for be contact with me

it
The smoke my own breath

of
Echos ripples and buzzed whispers .... loveroot silkthread crotch and vine
of ,
,
,
,
,
My respiration and inspiration .... beating my heart .... the passing

of
the blood
and air through my lungs
,
The sniff green and dry

of
of
leaves leaves and the shore and darkcolored sea

,
hay
of
rocks and the barn

in
,
,
The sound my voice ....

to
of
of
the belched
words words loosed the eddies
, of
the wind
few light kisses .... reaching around ....
of
arms
A
few embraces
a
a
,
on
The play supple boughs wag

of
as
shine and shade the trees the

,
The delight alone along the fields and hillsides

or
of
the rush the streets

in
or
,
The feeling ....

the full noon trill the song ....
me rising from bed
of
health
of
and meeting the sun

.
14 Leaves of Grass .
Have you reckoned a thousand acres much ? Have you reckoned the earth much ?
Have you practiced so long to learn to read ?
Have you felt so proud to get at the meaning of poems ?
Stop this day and night with me and you shall possess the origin of
all
poems
,
You shall possess good ....
of
the the earth and sun there are millions suns left
of
,
You shall no
longer take things nor look through the ....
or
at
second third hand
....
on
in
eyes the spectres
of
the dead nor feed books
,
You shall not look through my eyes either nor take things from me
,
You shall listen all
sides and filter them from yourself
to
.
have heard what the talkers were talking .... the beginning and the end
of
the talk
I
,
the beginning
do
But
of
not talk the end
or
I
.
There was never any more inception than there now
is
,
Nor any more youth age
or
than there now
is
;
any perfection
be
And will never more than there now
is
,
Nor any more heaven
or
hell than there now is
Urge and urge and urge .

,
Always the procreant urge

of
the world
.
the dimness opposite equals advance Always substance and increase

of
Out
,
Always knit identity always distinction... always ....
of
of
breed life
a
.
....
so
To
elaborate no avail Learned and unlearned feel that it

is
is
.
as
Sure the most certain sure plumb the uprights
in
well entretied braced
..
in
,
the beams
,
horse affectionate haughty

as
Stout electrical
a
,
,
and this mystery here we stand

I
.... and clear

all
Clear and sweet my soul and sweet that not my soul

is
is
is
Lack one lacks both .... and the unseen proved by the seen
is
,
its
Till that becomes unseen and receives proof turn

in
Showing the best and dividing from the worst age vexes age
it
Knowing the perfect fitness and equanimity things while they discuss
of
am silent
I
,
,
go
and bathe and admire myself

.
every organ and attribute any man hearty and clean

of
Welcome me and
of
is
,
an
inch nor particle

be
an
Not
of
inch vile and none shall less familiar than the rest
is
a
am satisfied .... see dance laugh sing

I
,
I
,
;
Leaves of Grass 15
on
all
As God comes a loving bedfellow and sleeps at my side night and close the
the day
of
peep
,
And leaves for me baskets covered with white towels bulging the house with their
plenty
,
postpone my acceptation and realization and scream my eyes
at
Shall
I
,
That they turn from gazing after and down the road
,
And forthwith cipher and show me
to
cent
,
Exactly the contents one and exactly the contents
of
of
two and which ahead
is
?
,
,
Trippers and askers surround me
,
People .....
the effect upon me my early life .... the ward and city
of
of
meet
I
I
live ....
in
of
the nation
•
.... , ....
old
The latest news discoveries inventions societies authors and new
,
,
,
My dinner dress associates looks business compliments dues
,
,
,
,
The real
or
or
fancied indifference some man woman love
of
I
,
....
or
—
or
my folks lack
..
The sickness myself doing loss
or or
of
ill
of
or of
one
or
-
.
....
of
money depressions exaltations
,
.
go
They come me days and nights and

to
from me again
,
But they are not the Me myself
.
Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what am

I
,
Stands amused complacent compassionating idle unitary
,
,
,
on
impalpable certain rest

an
an
Looks down erect bends arm

its is
,
,
Looks with sidecurved head curious what will come next
,
Both the game and watching and wondering

in
at
and out
of
it
,
Backward my own days where through fog with linguists and

in
see sweated
I
I
contenders
,
mockings arguments ....

no
or
have witness and wait

I
believe you my soul .... the other am must not abase itself you
in
to
,
I
you
to
And must not be abased the other

.
....
loose the stop from your throat
on
Loafe with me the grass

,
Not words not music rhyme ....

or
or
want not custom lecture not even the best

,
,
I
Only the lull like the hum your valved voice

of
,
I
mind how we lay June such transparent summer morning

in
a
I
;
,
You settled your head athwart my hips and gently turned over upon me
,
And parted the shirt from my bosom bone and plunged your tongue my barestript
to
-
heart
,
And reached till you felt my beard and reached till you held my feet
,
Swiftly arose and spread around me the peace and joy and knowledge that pass
all
the art and argument

of of
the earth
;
And know that the hand God the elderhand my own

of
is
I
,
And I
know that the spirit of God is the eldest brother of my own ,
....
all
And that the men ever born are also my brothers . and the women my sisters
and lovers
,
And that kelson the creation love
of
is
a
;
And limitless are drooping
or
leaves stiff the fields
in
,
And brown ants the little wells beneath
in
them
,
And mossy scabs and heaped
of
the wormfence stones and elder and mullen and
,
pokeweed
.
child said What fetching me with full hands
to
the grass
A
it
is
,
;
.... any more than
he
do
How could answer the child not know what
it
is
I
I
.
?
.
my disposition hopeful green stuff woven
be
guess the flag
of
must out
of
I
it
.
of
Or guess the handkerchief the Lord
it
is
,
I
scented gift and remembrancer designedly dropped
,
A
Bearing the owner's name someway the corners that we may and remark
in
see
,
,
and say Whose
?
....
Or
guess the grass the produced babe the vegetation
of
itself child
is
a
I
.
Or
uniform hieroglyphic
guess
is
it
,
I
And Sprouting alike broad zones and narrow zones

in
means
it
,
Growing among black folks among white
as
Kanuck Tuckahoe Congressman Cuff give them the same receive them the
,
,
I
I
,
same
.
And now
to
graves
of
seems me the beautiful uncut hair

it
Tenderly will use you curling grass

I
may you transpire from the breasts young men

of be be be
of
It It It
may had known them would have loved them

if
;
I
may
you are from old people and from women and from offspring taken soon
,
out their mothers laps

,
'
And here you are the mothers laps

.
'
be
very dark
to
is
This from the white heads old mothers

of
grass
,
Darker than the colorless beards old men

of
of
Dark come from under the faint red roofs mouths

to
.
all
many uttering tongues

do so
perceive after
0
I
And perceive they mouths for nothing

of
not come from the roofs

I
could translate the hints about the dead young men and women
wish
I
And the hints about old men and mothers and the offspring taken soon out
of
their
,
laps
.
Leaves of Grass . 17
What do you think has become of the young and old men ?
And what do you think has become of the women and children ?
They are alive and well somewhere ;

The smallest sprout shows there is really no death ,
And if ever there was it led forward life, and does not wait at the end to arrest it,
And ceased the moment life appeared .
All goes onward and outward .... and nothing collapses ,

And to die is different from what any one supposed , and luckier .
Has any one supposed it lucky to be born ?

I hasten to inform him or her it is just as lucky to die , and I know it .
I pass death with the dying , andbirth with the new -washed babe .... and am not
contained between my hat and boots,
And peruse manifold objects , no two alike , and every one good ,
all
The earth good , and the stars good , and their adjuncts good
.
an
an
adjunct
an
of of
am not earth nor earth

I I
all
am the mate and companion just

as
as
people immortal and fathomless
,
myself
;
They
do
not know how immortal but know

,
Every kind for itself and ....

its
own for me mine male and female

,
all
For me that have been boys and that love women

,
proud and feels how stings

be
For me the man that

to
slighted
is
it
For me the sweetheart and the old maid ....
of
for me mothers and the mothers
mothers
,
For me lips that have smiled eyes that have shed tears
,
,
For me children and the begetters

of
children
.
Who need be afraid

of
the merge
?
Undrape ....
you are not guilty me nor stale nor discarded
to
,
,
no
through gingham
or
see the broadcloth and whether

I
And am around tenacious acquisitive tireless ....

be
and can never shaken away

,
,
,
.
its
The little one sleeps

in
cradle
,
lift the gauze and look long time and silently brush away flies with my hand
a
..
I
up
The youngster and the redfaced girl turn aside the bushy hill
,
peeringly view them from the top

I
.
on
The suicide sprawls the bloody floor

of
the bedroom
,
... ....
It
so
the corpse there the pistol had fallen

is
witnessed
.
.
I
.
18 L e a ves of Grass .
The blab of the pave the tires of carts and sluff of bootsoles and talk of the
promenaders,
The heavy omnibus , the driver with his interrogating thumb , the clank of the shod
on the granite floor ,
horses
The carnival of sleighs , the clinking and shouted jokes and pelts of snowballs ;
The hurrahs for popular favorites the fury of roused mobs ,....
The flap of the curtained litter — the sick man inside ,, borne to the hospital ,
The meeting of enemies , the sudden oath , the blows and fall ,
his
his
The excited crowd - the policeman with star quickly working
to
passage the
of
centre the crowd
;
The impressive stones that receive and return many echoes
so
,
The souls moving along ....
are they invisible while the least atom
of
the stones
is
visible
?
on
What groans
or
or
in
the flags sunstruck
of
overfed half starved who fall fits
,
-
What exclamations women taken suddenly who hurry home and give birth
to
of
,
babes
,
What living and buried speech always vibrating here .... what howls restrained
is
by
decorum
,
Arrests criminals slights adulterous acceptances rejections with

of
offers made
,
,
,
,
convex lips
,
.... come again and again

or
mind them the resonance them

of
I
.
The big doors the country barn stand open and ready
of
,
-
The dried grass the harvest time loads the slow drawn wagon
of
,
-
-
on
The clear light plays the brown gray and green intertinged
,
The armfuls are packed the sagging mow
to
am there .... help .... the loadcame stretched atop

of
I I I
I
I
,
.
....
its
soft jolts
on
felt one leg reclined the other

,
jump from the crossbeams and seize the clover and timothy
,
And roll head over heels and tangle my hair full wisps
of
,
Alone far the wilds and mountains hunt

in
Wandering amazed my own lightness and glee

at
,
In
the late afternoon choosing safe spot pass the night

to
a
Kindling fire and broiling the freshkilled game

a
by
Soundly falling asleep the gathered leaves my dog and gun my side
on
The Yankee clipper under her three skysails .... she cuts the sparkle and scud
is
My .... her prow shout joyously from the deck

or
at
eyes settle the land bend

I
The boatmen and clamdiggers arose early and stopped for me

,
tucked my trowser ends my boots and went and had good time
in
a
I
,
-
You should have been with that day round the chowder kettle
us
.
-
....
air
saw the marriage the trapper the open the far west the bride was
in
in
of
I
red girl
a
,
L e a ves of Gras s. 19
Her father and his friends sat near by crosslegged and dumbly smoking they
had moccasins to their feet and large thick blankets hanging from their
shoulders ;
On a bank lounged the trapper ....
he was dressed mostly in skins his luxuriant ....
beard and curls protected his neck ,
One hand rested on his rifle ....
the other hand held firmly the wrist of the red girl,
She had long eyelashes ....
her head was bare her coarse straight locks ....
descended upon her voluptuous limbs and reached to her feet .
The runaway slave came to my house and stopped outside ,

I heard his motions crackling the twigs of the woodpile ,
Through the swung half -door of the kitchen I saw him limpsey and weak ,
And went where he sat on a log , and led him in and assured him ,
And brought water and filled a tub for his sweated body and bruised feet ,
And gave him a room that entered from my own , and gave him some coarse clean
clothes ,
And remember perfectly well his revolving eyes and his awkwardness ,
And remember putting plasters on the galls of his neck and ankles ;
He staid with me a week before he was recuperated and passed north ,
I had him sit next me at table .. my firelock leaned in the corner .
Twenty - eight young men bathe by the shore ,
Twenty - eight young men , and
all
friendly
, so
,
all
womanly life and

so
Twenty ight years lonesome

of
.
-e
She owns the fine house by the rise the bank

of
She hides handsome and richly drest aft the blinds

of
the window
.
Which the young men does she like the best

of
Ah the homeliest
to
of
them beautiful her

is
.
off
Where are you lady

for see you
to
,
I
?
You splash the water there yet stay stock still your room
in
in
,
Dancing and laughing along the beach came the twenty ninth bather
,
-
The rest did not see her but she saw them and loved them
,
The beards the young men glistened with wet ran from their long hair
of
it
,
,
all
Little streams passed over their bodies

.
An unseen hand also passed over their bodies

,
tremblingly from their temples and ribs

It
descended
.
do
on
to
The young men float their backs their white bellies swell the sun they
,
to
not ask who seizes fast them

,
They do not know who puffs and declines with pendant and bending arch ,
They do not think whom they souse with spray .
off
The butcher -boy puts his killing clothes
or
at
sharpens his knife the stall the
in
,
-
market
,
loiter enjoying his repartee and his shuffle and breakdown
I
.
Blacksmiths with grimed and hairy chests environ the anvil
,
.... great heat
all
they are
in
Each has his main ledge out there the fire
is
a
.
.
From the cinder -s
threshold follow their movements
strewed
I
-
,
The lithe sheer their waists plays even with their massive arms
of
,
—
—
Overhand the hammers roll
so
so
overhand slow overhand sure
,
They
do
not hasten each man hits his place
in
,
.
The negro holds firmly the reins
of
his four horses .... the block swags underneath
on
its
tied over chain

,
-
negro that drives the huge dray the stoneyard .... steady and tall
he
The of stands
on
the stringpiece
on
poised one leg

,
His blue shirt exposes his ample neck and breast and loosens over his hipband
,
calm and commanding ....
his hat away from
he
His glance tosses the slouch
of
is
his forehead
on ,
his crispy hair and moustache ....

... falls his polish'd
on
The
of
sun falls the black
and perfect limbs
.
behold the picturesque giant and love .... not stop there
do
him and
II
,
go with the team also
.
....
In
life wherever moving forward slue

as
as
of
me the caresser backward well

ing
,
To niches aside and junior bending

.
Oxen that rattle the yoke that you express

all or
your eyes
in
halt
in
the shade what

is
?
,
print my life
to
me more than have read

It
in
seems the
I
My tread
on
scares the wood drake and wood duck my distant and daylong ramble
,
-
They rise together they slowly circle around

,
...
believe those winged purposes
in
I
And acknowledge the red yellow and white playing within me

,
And consider the green and violet and the tufted crown intentional
;
do
And not call the tortoise unworthy because she not something else
is
And the mocking bird the swamp never studied the gamut yet trills pretty well
to
in
me
,
And the bay mare shames silliness

of
the look out

of
me
.
The wild gander leads his flock through the cool night
,
Leaves of Grass .
21
Ya -honk ! he says, and sounds

it down to me like an invitation ;
The pert may suppose it meaningless, but I listen closer ,

I find
up
its
purpose and place there toward the November sky
.
The sharphoofed moose
on
of
the north the cat the housesill the chickadee the
,
,
prairie og
,
-d
The litter the grunting sow they tug
as
at
of of
her teats
,
The brood the turkeyhen and she with her halfspread wings
,
,
them and myself the same old law
in
see
I
.
The press my foot the earth springs
to
hundred affections
of
,
They scorn the best can do
to
relate them
I
.
growing outdoors
of
am enamoured
I
,
Of Of
among
or
or
of
men that live cattle taste the ocean woods
,
ships
of
of
the builders and steerers the wielders axes and mauls the drivers
of
of
,
,
of
horses
,
in
can eat and sleep with them week and week out
I
What commonest and cheapest and nearest and easiest Me .

is
is
,
Me going for my spending for vast returns
in
chances
,
,
on
Adorning myself bestow myself the first that will take me

to
,
Not asking the sky my goodwill
to
to
come down
,
Scattering freely forever

it
The pure contralto sings the organloft

in
....
his
his
its
The carpenter dresses plank the tongue foreplane whistles wild
of
ascending lisp
,
The married and unmarried children ride home their thanksgiving dinner
to
,
pin
The pilot seizes the king

he
heaves down with strong arm

,
a
-
The mate stands braced the whaleboat lance and harpoon are ready
in
,
by
The duck shooter walks silent and cautious stretches

,
-
The deacons are ordained with crossed hands

at
the altar
,
The spinning girl retreats and advances the big wheel

to
of
the hum
,
-
by
The farmer stops Sunday and looks the oats and rye
at
the bars
as to of
a
The lunatic asylum

at
carried last the confirmed case

is
the a
,
cot
did
He
at his
will never sleep any more

he
mother's bedroom
in
in
The jour printer with gray head and gaunt jaws works his case
,
He turns his quid tobacco his eyes get blurred with the manuscript
of
;
,
The malformed limbs are tied

to
the anatomist's table

,
What removed drops horribly pail

in
is
....
by
The quadroon girl

at
sold the stand the drunkard nods the barroom stove

is
....
the gate ....
up
The machinist rolls his sleeves the policeman travels his beat
keeper marks who pass
,
22
Leaves of Grass .
The young fellow drives the express - wagon .... I love him though I do not know
him ;
The half - breed straps on his light boots to compete in the race ,
The western turkey - shooting draws old and young ....
... some lean on their rifles,
sit
on
some logs
his
Out from the crowd steps the marksman and takes his position and levels piece
;
The groups newly come immigrants cover the wharf
or
of
levee
,
-
The woollypates hoe the sugarfield the overseer views them from his saddle
in
;
The bugle calls the gentlemen run for their partners the dancers
in
the ballroom
,
to
bow each other
;
The youth lies awake the cedar roofed garret and harks
to
the musical rain
in
,
-
on
fill
The Wolverine sets traps the creek that helps the Huron
,
his
platform spouts
he
The reformer ascends the with mouth and nose
,
up
The company returns from its
excursion the darkey brings the rear and bears the
,
well riddled target
,
-
for
The squaw wrapt her yellow cloth offering moccasins and beadbags
in
hemmed
is
-
sale
,
The connoisseur peers along the exhibition gallery with halfshut eyes bent sideways
,
-
The deckhands make fast the steamboat the plank thrown for the shoregoing
is
,
passengers
,
off
The young sister holds out the skein the elder sister winds ball and stops
in
it
a
,
now and then for the knots

,
The one year wife recovering and happy week ago she bore her first child
is
a
,
,
-
girl works with her sewing machine the factory
or
or
The cleanhaired Yankee
in
-
mill
,
The nine months gone the parturition chamber her faintness and pains are ad
in
is
,
'
vancing
;
--
The pavingman leans the reporter's lead flies swiftly

— on
his twohanded rammer

over the notebook the signpainter lettering with red and gold
is
,
—
The canal boy trots towpath the bookkeeper counts

on
the
at
the his desk

-
shoemaker waxes his thread

,
all
The conductor beats time for the band and the performers follow him
,
—
The child baptised the convert making the first professions

is
is
... how the white sails sparkle

on
The regatta spread the bay

is
them that would stray

he
— to
The drover watches his drove sings out

,
,
his
his
The pedlar sweats with pack the purchaser higgles about the odd
on
back
cent
,
sit
The camera and plate are prepared the lady must for her daguerreotype
,
The bride unrumples her white dress the minutehand the clock moves slowly
of
,
The opium eater reclines with rigid head and just opened lips
,
-
on
The prostitute draggles her shawl her bonnet bobs her tipsy and pimpled neck
,
The crowd laugh her blackguard oaths the men jeer and wink
at
to
each other
,
,
do
not laugh your oaths nor jeer you

at
Miserable
I
(
,
!
)
by
the great secretaries

he
The President holds cabinet council surrounded

is
a
,
Leaves of Gras s. 23
On the piazza walk five friendly matrons with twined arms ;

The crew of the fish - smack pack repeated layers of halibut in the hold ,
The Missourian crosses the plains toting his wares and his cattle ,
The fare - collector goes through the train
change ,
- he gives notice by the jingling of loose
-
The floormen are laying the floor — the tinners are tinning the roof — the masons
are calling for mortar ,
In single file each shouldering his hod pass onward the laborers ;
Seasons pursuing each other the indescribable crowd is gathered it is the ....
Fourth of July what salutes of cannon and small arms !
. . . ..
Seasons pursuing each other the plougher ploughs and the mower mows and the
wintergrain falls in the ground ;
Off on the lakes the pikefisher watches and waits by the hole in the frozen surface ,
The stumps stand thick round the clearing, the squatter strikes deep with his axe ,
The flatboatmen make fast toward dusk near the cottonwood or pekantrees,
The coon - seekers go now through the regions of the Red river , or through those
drained by the Tennessee , or through those of the Arkansas ,
The torches shine in the dark that hangs on the Chattahoochee or Altamahaw ;
sit
supper with sons and grandsons and great grandsons around them
at
Patriarchs
,
In
canvass tents rest hunters and trappers after their day's sport
in
of
walls abode
,
.
The city sleeps and the country sleeps
,
The living sleep for their time ....

the dead sleep for their time
,
by
by
The old husband sleeps his wife and the young husband sleeps his wife
;
to all
And these one and

to
tend inward me and tend outward them to
,
I I
,
And such
as
am
or
of
be these more
is
less
it
old and young

as of as
as
of
of
am the foolish much the wise

,
I
Regardless others ever regardful others

of
as ,
paternal
as
as
Maternal well child well man

a
is ,
Stuffed with the stuff that coarse and stuffed with the stuff that fine
is
,
,
One great nations the nation many nations t he smallest the same and the
of
of
the
,
largest the same

,
planter nonchalant and hospitable

as
southerner soon northerner

A A
a
,
Yankee bound my own way ready for trade ....

my joints the limberest
..
joints on earth and the sternest joints

on
earth
,
Kentuckian walking the vale the Elkhorn my deerskin leggings

in
of
A A
along coasts .... Badger

or
or
boatman over the lakes bays Hoosier

a
a
,
Buckeye
,
Georgian poke easy from sandhills and pines

or
Louisianian
A
a
,
,
-
up
off
At New
on
or
or
Canadian snowshoes the bush with fishermen

in
home
,
foundland
,
At
iceboats sailing with the rest and tacking

in
of of
home the fleet

,
,
At
or
on the hills Vermont the woods Maine the Texan ranch

in
or
of
home
,
of
Comrade Californians northwesterners loving their big

of
comrade free
,
proportions
,
24 Leaves of Grass . 1
Comrade of raftsmen and coalmen — comrade of all who shake hands and welcome
to drink and meat ;
A learner with the simplest, a teacher of the thoughtfulest ,
A novice beginning experient of myriads of seasons ,
Of every hue and trade and rank , of every caste and religion,
Not merely of the New World but of Africa Europe or Asia .... a wandering
savage ,
A farmer , mechanic, or artist .... a gentleman , sailor , lover or quaker ,

A prisoner, fancy -man , rowdy , lawyer, physician or priest .
I resist anything better than my own diversity ,

And breathe the air and leave plenty after me,
And am not stuck up , and am in my place .
The moth and the fisheggs are in their place ,

The suns I see and the suns I cannot see are in their place ,
its
its
The palpable is in place and the impalpable place
in
is
.
all
all
These are the thoughts ages and lands they are not original with
of
in
men
,
me
,
they are not yours mine they are nothing nothing
or
as
as
to
If If If If
much next
,
they everything they nothing
do
to
not enclose are next
,
they are not the riddle and the untying the riddle they are nothing
of
,
they are not just they are distant they are nothing
as
as
close
.
This the grass that grows wherever the land and the water
is
is
is is
,
This the common air that bathes the globe
.
This laws and songs and behaviour

of
the breath
is
This the tasteless water ....

it of
souls this the true sustenance

is
is
....
for the judges ....
It
for the illiterate for the

of
the supreme court

is
is
it
is
.
federal capitol and the state capitols

,
for
literary and composers and singers

It
the admirable communes and

of
men
is
lecturers and engineers and savans

,
working people and farmers and seamen

It
of
for the endless races

is
This trill
of
thousand clear cornets and scream the octave flute and strike
of
the
is
triangles
of
play not march for victors only play great marches for conquered and
a
I
slain persons
.
Have you heard that was good gain the day

to
it
.... the same spirit which they are

to
also say good fall battles are lost

in
it
is
in
I
won
.
I ....
for
sound triumphal drums the dead fling through my embouchures the
I
loudest and gayest music
to
them
,
to
to
Vivas those who have failed and war vessels sank the sea
in
those whose
,
-
and those themselves who sank
in
the sea
,
all
all
And and the number
to
generals
that lost engagements and overcome heroes
,
equal
to
less unknown heroes the greatest heroes known
.
This the meal pleasantly set .... this
the meat and drink for natural hunger
is
is
,
for the wicked just the same righteous ....
make appointments with all
as
I It
the
is
,
I
will not have single person slighted left away
or
a
,
The keptwoman and sponger and thief are hereby invited .... the heavy lipped slave
-
invited ....
the venerealee invited
is
is
,
There shall be no difference between them and the rest
.
This the press bashful hand ....
of of
of
this the float and odor hair
is is is is
is
,
a
This my lips yours the murmur ....yearning
of
the touch this
to
is
,
off
This the far depth and height reflecting my own face

-
,
This the thoughtful merge myself and the outlet again
of
.
Do you guess have some intricate purpose
I
Well have .... for the April rain has and the mica
on
of
the side rock has
,
I
.
Do you take would astonish
it
?
I
daylight the early redstart twittering through the woods

or
Does the astonish

?
?
Do astonish more than they
I
This hour tell things

in
confidence
,
I
might not tell everybody but will tell you

I
I
Who goes there hankering gross mystical nude

,
?
,
!
How extract strength from the beef eat

is
it
I
What man anyhow What am and what are you

is
a
I
?
?
All mark my own you shall offset with your own

as
it
I
Else were time lost listening

to
me
it
do not snivel that snivel the world over

I
That months are vacuums and the ground but wallow and filth
,
That life sell and nothing remains the end but threadbare crape
at
suck and
is
a
and tears
.
Whimpering and truckling fold with powders for invalids .... conformity
to
goes
the fourth removed
,
-
cock my hat
or
as
please indoors out

I
.
be
Shall pray Shall venerate and ceremonious

?
I
I
?
I have pried through the strata and analyzed to a hair ,

And counselled with doctors and calculated close and found no sweeter fat than
sticks to my own bones .
all
In people see myself none more and not one barleycorn less
a
,
I
,
And say myself say
or
the good
of
bad
of
them
.
And know am solid and sound
I
,
To me the converging objects the universe perpetually flow
of
,
All are written to me and must get what the writing means
I
,
.
And know am deathless
I
be
know this orbit mine cannot swept by carpenter's compass
of
I I
,
night
at
know shall not pass like child's carlacue cut with burnt stick
a
a
I
.
know am august
I I I I
not trouble my spirit
be
do
or
to
vindicate itself understood
,
see that the elementary laws never apologize
,
no
reckon behave prouder than the level plant my house by after all
I
.
as
exist am that enough

is
,
If I
I
,
sit
be
no
other the world aware content

in
,
I
be
And each and all aware sit content

if
and by far the largest myself

to
One world aware me and that

is
is
,
,
And whether my own today ten million years

or
or
to
ten thousand
in
come
I
,
can cheerfully take equal can wait
or
now with cheerfulness

it
I
I
.
My foothold tenoned and mortised granite
in
is
laugh what you call dissolution

at
,
I
And know the amplitude time

of
I
am the poet the body

of
I
And poet
of
am the the soul

I
The pleasures heaven are with me and the pains hell are with me
of
of
,
The first graft and increase upon myself the latter translate into .... new
I
tongue
.
as as
am the poet
of
the woman the same the man

I
say great
be
be
And
is as
to
to
woman man
it
is
a
I I
And say there nothing greater than the mother

of
men
.
pride
or
of
chant new chant

dilation
,
a
I
We have had ducking and deprecating about enough

,
show that size only developement

is
I
.
Leaves of Grass. 27
Have you outstript the rest ? Are you the President ?

It is a trifle ....
they will more than arrive there every one , and still pass on .
I am he that walks with the tender and growing night ;
I call to the earth and sea half -held by the night .
Press close barebosomed night ! Press close magnetic nourishing night !

Night of south winds ! Night of the large few stars !
Still nodding night ! Mad naked summer night !
Smile O voluptuous coolbreathed earth !

Earth of the slumbering and liquid trees !
Earth of departed sunset ! Earth of the mountains misty -topt !
Earth of the vitreous pour of the full moon just tinged with blue !
Earth of shine and dark mottling the tide of the river !

Earth of the limpid gray of clouds brighter and clearer for my sake !
Far - swooping elbowed earth ! Rich apple -blossomed earth !

Smile , for your lover comes !
Prodigal ! you have given me love ! .... therefore I to you give love !
O unspeakable passionate love !
Thruster holding me tight and that I hold tight !

We hurt each other as the bridegroom and the bride hurt each other .
You sea ! I
resign myself to you also . I guess what you mean .... ,
I behold from the beach your crooked inviting fingers ,

I believe you refuse to go back without feeling of me ;
We must have a turn together .... I undress .... hurry me out of sight of the land ,
Cushion me soft ....
rock me in billowy drowse ,
Dash me with amorous wet . can repay you . I
Sea of stretched ground -swells !
Sea breathing broad and convulsive breaths !
Sea of the brine of life ! Sea of unshovelled and always - ready graves !
Howler and scooper of storms ! Capricious and dainty sea !
I .... I
all
am integral with you too am of one phase and of phases

.
of
of
Partaker influx and efflux extoler hate and conciliation

..
..
Extoler
in
amies and those that sleep each others arms

of
'
attesting sympathy
he
am
I
make my list things the house and skip the house that supports them
of
Shall
in
I
am the poet immortality

of
and the demonstrable and

of
of
commonsense
I
;
do
be
And am not the poet only the poet wick

to
not decline
of
goodness
of
I
.
edness also
.
28 Leaves of Gras s.
Washes and razors for foofoos .... for me freckles and a bristling beard .
What blurt is it about virtue and about vice ?
Evil propels me, and reform of evil propels me .... I stand indifferent ,
My gait is no faultfinder's or rejecter's gait ,
I
all
moisten the roots of that has grown
.
Did you fear some scrofula out the unflagging pregnancy
of
?
you the celestial laws are yet
be
Did
to
guess worked over and rectified
?
....
up
we
we
say that what right and what right
do
to
step affirm and some
is
is
I
only the ore right

of
is
,
....
balance and the antipodal side
as us
Witnesses balance
of
one side
a
,
steady help
as
Soft doctrine stable doctrine
,
Thoughts and deeds present our rouse and early start
of
the
.
This minute that me over the past decillions
it to
comes
,
There no better than and now
is
What behaved well the past behaves well today

or
not such wonder

in
is
or a
,
always and always how there can
be
an
The wonder mean man infidel
is
.
Endless unfolding ages
of of
of
words
....
!
And mine word

en
the modern word masse

a
word the faith that never balks

A
of
....
all
or
as
as
to
One time good another time here henceforward the same
it
is
me
.
reality .... materialism first and last imbueing

of
word
A
Hurrah for positive science Long live exact demonstration

!
stonecrop
of
Fetch and mix with cedar and branches lilac

it
This the lexicographer this made grammar old

or
of
chemist the
is
cartouches
,
These mariners put the ship through dangerous unknown seas

,
This the geologist and this works with the scalpel and this mathematician
is
is
a
,
Gentlemen receive you and attach and clasp hands with you
I
.... enter by them

to
The facts are useful and real they are not my dwelling
I
.
the dwelling
an
of
area
.
property qualities
or
am less the reminder and more the reminder life

for of
of
for ,
I
,
go
my own sake and

on
And the square other's sake

,
And make short account of neuters and geldings, and favor men and women fully
equipped ,
And beat the gong of revolt , and stop with fugitives and them that plot and conspire.
Walt Whitman , an American , one of the roughs, a kosmos ,

Disorderly fleshy and sensual ....
eating drinking and breeding ,
No sentimentalist .
no stander above men and women or apart from them ... no
more modest than immodest .
Unscrew the locks from the doors !
Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs !
Whoever degrades another degrades me and whatever is done or said returns

at last to me ,
And whatever I do or say I also return .
Through me the afflatus surging and surging .... through me the current and index .
I speak the password primeval .... I give the sign of democracy ;

By God I
on
all
will accept nothing which cannot have their counterpart
of
! the
same terms
.
Through me many long dumb voices

,
the interminable generations

of of of of
Voices
of
slaves
,
Voices prostitutes and

of
deformed persons
,
the diseased and desparing and

of
Voices thieves and dwarfs

,
cycles preparation and accretion

of
Voices
,
—
And
of of
of
the threads that connect the stars and wombs and the fatherstuff
of
,
,
And the rights them the others are down upon
of
,
Of Of
the trivial and flat and foolish and despised

,
fog the air and beetles rolling balls dung

of
in
Through me forbidden voices

,
....
of
Voices sexes and lusts voices veiled and remove the veil
,
,
I
Voices indecent by me clarified and transfigured

.
do
not press my finger across my mouth

I I
,
as
as
keep delicate around the bowels around the head and heart
,
no
Copulation
to
more rank me than death

is
is
believe the flesh and the appetites

in
I
Seeing hearing and feeling are miracles and each part and tag
of
me miracle
is
a
,
Divine am inside and out and make holy whatever

or
touch am touched from

I
I
;
,
The scent these arm pits aroma finer than prayer

is of
is
-
This head
or
or
more than churches bibles creeds

.
30 Leaves of Grass
If Iworship any particular thing it shall be some of the spread of my body ;
Translucent mould of me it shall be you ,

Shaded ledges and rests , firm masculine coulter , it shall be you ,
Whatever goes to the tilth of me it shall be you ,
You my rich blood , your milky stream pale strippings of my life ;
Breast that presses against other breasts it shall be you ,

My brain it shall be your occult convolutions ,
Root of washed sweet - flag , timorous pond - snipe , nest of guarded duplicate eggs , it
shall be you ,
Mixed tussled hay of head and beard and brawn it shall be you ,
Trickling sap of maple , fibre of manly wheat, it shall be you ;
Sun so generous it shall be you ,
Vapors lighting and shading my face it shall be you ,
You sweaty brooks and dews it shall be you ,
Winds whose soft -tickling genitals rub against me it shall be you ,
Broad muscular fields, branches of liveoak , loving lounger in my winding paths, it
shall be you ,
Hands I have taken , face I have kissed , mortal I have ever touched , it shall be you .
I dote on myself ....

lot
all
so
of
there is that me and luscious

,
,
Each moment and whatever happens thrills me with joy
.
cannot tell how my ankles bend .... nor whence the cause my faintest wish
of of
,
I
Nor the cause the friendship the friendship

of
emit nor the cause take

.
...
I
I
again
.
....
up
my stoop
To
be
pause really
to
it
unaccountable
if
walk
is is
consider
,
I
That eat and drink spectacle enough

for the great authors and schools
I
,
morning glory my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics
at
of
books
A
.
To behold the daybreak
!
The little light fades the immense and diaphanous shadows

,
The air tastes good my palate

to
the moving world silently rising freshly exuding

at
innocent gambols
of
Hefts
,
Scooting obliquely high and low

.
Something cannot see puts upward libidinous prongs

I
bright juice suffuse heaven

of
Seas
.
The earth by the sky staid with .... the daily close junction
of
their
,
The heaved challenge from the east that moment over my head
,
The mocking taunt See then whether you shall

be
master
,
Dazzling and tremendous how quick the sunrise would kill me

,
could not now and always send sunrise out

of
If
me
I
.
We also ascend dazzling and tremendous as the sun ,

We found our own my soul in the calm and cool of the daybreak ,
My voice goes after what my eyes cannot reach ,

With the twirl of my tongue I encompass worlds and volumes of worlds .
Speech is the twin of my vision .... it is unequal to measure itself .
It provokes me forever ,
It says sarcastically , Walt , you understand enough ... why don't you let it out
then ?
Come now I will not be tantalized .... you conceive too much of articulation .
Do you not know how the buds beneath are folded ?

Waiting in gloom protected by frost ,
The dirt receding before my prophetical screams,
Iunderlying causes to balance them at last ,
My knowledge my live parts ....
it keeping tally with the meaning of things ,
Happiness . which whoever hears me let him or her set out in search of this
day .
My final merit I refuse you .. I refuse putting from me the best I am .
Encompass worlds but never try to encompass me ,

I crowd your noisiest talk by looking toward you .
Writing and talk do not prove me ,
Icarry the plenum of proof and every thing else in my face ,
With the hush of my lips I confound the topmost skeptic .
Ithink I will do nothing for a long time but listen ,

And accrue what I hear into myself ....
let
and sounds contribute toward me

.
.... growing wheat ...

of
hear the bravuras

of
gossip
of
birds the bustle flames

I
cooking my
of
clack sticks meals

.
....
as of
hear the sound the human voice sound love

I I
I
a
,
all
they are tuned the city and sounds

to
hear sounds their uses

of
sounds
..
.
.
.
city .... day night

of
of
out the sounds the and

;
Talkative young ones ....

to
those that like them fish pedlars and

of
the recitative
-
fruit pedlars .... laugh workpeople

at
the loud their meals

of
,
-
The angry base disjointed friendship ....

of
the faint tones the sick

of
The judge with hands tight the desk his shaky lips pronouncing
to
death sentence
a
,
,
....
by
The heave'e'yo unlading ships

; of
of
stevedores the wharves the refrain the

anchor lifters
-
32 Leaves of Gras s .
The ring of alarm - bells ....

the cry of fire ....
the whirr of swift - streaking engines
and hose - carts with premonitory tinkles and colored lights,
The steam -whistle ....
the solid roll of the train of approaching cars ;
The slow -march played at night at the head of the association ,
They go to guard some corpse ....
the flag - tops are draped with black muslin .
I or man's heart complaint ,

hear the violincello
And hear the keyed cornet or else the echo of sunset .
I hear the chorus .... it is grand - opera

aa grand .... this indeed is music !
A tenor large and fresh as the creation fills me ,

The orbic flex of his mouth is pouring and filling me full .
I hear the trained soprano she convulses me like the climax of my love - grip ;
The orchestra whirls me wider than Uranus flies ,

It wrenches unnamable ardors from my breast ,
It throbs me to gulps of the farthest down horror ,
It sails me . I dab with bare feet ....
they are licked by the indolent waves ,
I am exposed ....
cut by bitter and poisoned hail ,
Steeped amid honeyed morphine my windpipe squeezed in the fakes of death ,
Let up again to feel the puzzle of puzzles ,
And that we call Being .
To be in any form , what is that ?
If
its
nothing lay more developed the quahaug and callous shell were enough
.
Mine no callous shell
is
have instant conductors all over me whether stop

or
pass
I
They seize every object and lead harmlessly through me

it
merely stir press feel with my fingers and am happy

,
I
as
To touch my person
as
much can stand

to
some one else's about

is
this then .... quivering me new identity

to
Is
touch
a
a
?
Flames and ether making rush for my veins

a
,
tip
me reaching and crowding help them

to
of
Treacherous
,
My flesh and blood playing out lightning hardly different from

to
strike what
is
,
myself
,
all
On sides prurient provokers stiffening my limbs

,
its
Straining the udder my heart for withheld drip

of
,
no
Behaving licentious toward me taking denial

,
Depriving me my best purpose

as
of
for
a
,
by
of me
Unbuttoning my clothes and holding the bare waist

,
Deluding my confusion with the calm the sunlight and pasture fields
,
L e a ves of Gras s . 33
Immodestly sliding the fellow - senses away ,
off
They bribed to swap
go
at
with touch and and graze the edges
of
me
,
No consideration
of no
regard for my draining strength my anger
or
,
,
Fetching the rest enjoy them awhile
to
the herd around
,
all
on
Then uniting
to
stand headland and worry me
.
The sentries desert every other part
of
me
,
They have left me helpless
to
red marauder
,
They
all
witness and assist against me

to
to
come the headland
.
am given up by traitors
I I
;
talk wildly have lost my wits .... and nobody else am the greatest
.
I
I
traitor
,
went myself first .... my own hands carried me there

to
the headland
I
.
You villain touch what are you doing ...
its
my breath tight throat
in
is
?
!
;
Unclench your floodgates you are too much for me
!
.
Blind loving wrestling touch Sheathed hooded sharptoothed touch
!
!
Did make you ache leaving me
so
it
?
by
Parting tracked arriving perpetual payment the perpetual loan

of
.
,
.
Rich showering rain and recompense richer afterward

,
....
by
Sprouts take and accumulate stand the curb prolific and vital
,
Landscapes projected masculine full sized and golden
-
All truths wait

all
things
in
They neither hasten their own delivery nor resist

it
,
They
do
not need the obstetric forceps

of
the surgeon
,
The insignificant big any

as
as
a to
me
is
What
or
less more than touch

is
Logic and sermons never convince

,
The damp the night drives deeper into my soul

of
Only what proves itself every man and woman

so
to
is
Only what nobody denies

so
is
drop me settle my brain

of
minute and
A
believe the soggy clods shall become lovers and lamps

I
And compend compends

or
of
the meat
of
man woman
is
a
And summit and flower there the feeling they have for each other
is
a
And they are branch boundlessly out that lesson until

to
becomes omnific
of
it
And until every one shall delight

us
and we them
,
.
I
believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journeywork of the stars ,
And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren ,
And the tree - toad is a chef - d'ouvre for the highest ,

And the running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven ,
And the narrowest hinge in my hand puts to scorn
all
machinery
,
And the cow crunching with depressed head surpasses any statue
,
And miracle enough
to
stagger sextillions
at of
mouse infidels
is
a
,
And every my life the farmer's girl boiling her
to
of
could come afternoon look
I
iron tea kettle and baking shortcake

-
.
find incorporate gneiss and coal and long threaded moss and fruits and grains and
I
I
-
esculent roots
,
all
And am stucco'd with quadrupeds and birds over
,
And have distanced what behind me for good reasons
is
,
And call any thing close again when desire
it
I
.
In In In In In In In In In
or
vain the speeding shyness

,
vain the plutonic rocks send their old heat against my approach
,
its
vain the mastadon retreats beneath own powdered bones
,
off
vain objects stand leagues and assume manifold shapes
,
vain the ocean settling hollows and the great monsters lying low
in
,
vain the buzzard houses herself with the sky
,
vain the snake slides through the creepers and logs

,
to
vain the elk takes the inner passes the woods

of
,
in to
vain the razorbilled auk sails far north Labrador

,
follow quickly ....

to
the nest the fissure the cliff

of
ascend
I
.
think .... they are placid and self
so
could turn and live awhile with the animals
I
contained
,
half the day long

at
stand and look them sometimes

I
They
do do do
not sweat and whine about their condition

,
They
lie
not the dark and weep for their sins

awake
in
They not make me sick discussing their duty

to
God
,
Not .... owning things

of
one dissatisfied not one demented with the mania

is
is
Not years ago

to
to
one kneels another nor his kind that lived thousands

of
respectable
or
Not one industrious over the whole earth

is
they show their relations accept them

So
to
me and
I
They bring me tokens myself they evince them plainly ....

in
their possession
of
not know where they got those tokens

do
I I
must have passed that way untold times ago and negligently dropt them
,
Myself moving forward then and now and forever

,
Gathering and showing more always and with velocity

,
Infinite and omnigenous and the like of these among them ;

Not too exclusive toward the reachers of my remembrancers ,
Picking out here one that shall be my amie,
Choosing to go with him on brotherly terms .
A gigantic beauty of a stallion , fresh and responsive to my caresses ,
Head high in the forehead and wide between the ears ,

Limbs glossy and supple , tail dusting the ground,
Eyes well apart and full of sparkling wickedness . .
ears finely cut and flexibly
moving
His nostrils dilate . . . . my heels embrace him . . . . his well built limbs tremble with
pleasure .... we speed around and return .
Ibut use you a moment and then I resign you stallion .... and do not need your
paces , and outgallop them ,
And myself as I stand or
sit
pass faster than you
.
Swift wind My Soul Now know
at
Space true what guessed
is
it
I
I
;
!
What
on
guessed when loafed the grass

I I
I I
What lay alone my bed .... and again
as
guessed while walked the beach
in
I
under the paling stars the morning
of
My ties and ballasts .... .... .... my elbows rest
in
leave me travel sail the
I
I
sea gaps
,
....
-
skirt the sierras my palms cover continents

II I
am afoot with my vision

.
....
log
By the city's quadrangular houses camping with lumbermen

or
huts
in
,
-
Along the ruts the turnpike .... along the dry gulch and rivulet bed
of
Hoeing my onion patch and rows carrots and parsnips crossing savannas ...
of
.
,
-
trailing
in
forests
,
Prospecting .... gold digging ....

girdling the trees new purchase
of
,
a
by -
Scorched ankle deep the hot sand hauling my ....

boat down the shallow river
....
;
-
Where the panther walks

to
and fro on limb overhead where the buck turns

a
furiously
at
the hunter
,
on
Where the rattlesnake suns his flabby length where the otter
is
rock
a
on
feeding fish
,
by
Where the alligator his tough pimples sleeps the bayou

in
searching for roots honey where the beaver pats

or
Where the black bear

is
the mud with his paddle tail

;
-
.... ....
its
Over the growing sugar over the cottonplant over the rice
in
low
moist field
;
its
Over the sharp eaked farmhouse with scalloped scum and slender shoots from
; -p
the gutters
Over the western persimmon .... over the longleaved corn and the delicate blue
flowered flax ;
Over the white and brown buckwheat , a hummer and a buzzer there with the rest ,
Over the dusky green of the rye as it ripples and shades in the breeze ;
Scaling mountains pulling myself cautiously up .. holding on by low scrag
ged limbs ,
Walking the path worn in the grass and beat through the leaves of the brush ;
Where the quail is whistling betwixt the woods and the wheatlot ,
Where the bat flies in the July eve ....
where the great goldbug drops through the
dark ;
Where the flails keep time on the barn floor ,
Where the brook puts out of the roots of the old tree and flows to the meadow ,
Where cattle stand and shake away flies with the tremulous shuddering of their
hides ,
Where the cheese - cloth hangs in the kitchen , and andirons straddle the hearth - slab ,
and cobwebs fall in festoons from the rafters ;
.... where the press
its
Where triphammers crash is whirling cylinders
;
its
of
Wherever the human heart beats with terrible throes out ribs
;
floating aloft floating .... myself and look
in
Where the pear haped balloon
is
it
-s
ing composedly down

;
where the heat hatches pale

on
Where the life car drawn the slipnoose

is
-
in
the dented sand

green eggs
,
Where the she whale swims with her calves and never forsakes them
,
-
on a its
Where the steamship trails hindways long pennant

of
smoke
,
is fin
ground black chip out

of
Where the shark's cuts like the water
,
-
Where the half burned brig riding unknown currents

,
-
Where shells grow her slimy deck and the dead are corrupting below
to
;
Where the striped and starred flag the regiments
at
of
borne the head

is
;
by
up
Approaching Manhattan the long stretching island

,
,
-
Under Niagara the cataract falling like veil over my countenance

a
;
,
Upon ....
upon the horse block
of
door step hard wood outside

a
,
-
Upon the race course enjoying pic nics jigs base ball
or
or
or
good game
of
a
,
,
-
-
At
blackguard jibes
he
festivals with and ironical license and bull dances and

-
drinking and laughter

,
At
mill tasting the the brown sqush sucking the juice

of
the cider sweet

,
-
through
straw
a
,
At At
all
apple pealings wanting kisses for the red fruit find

,
I
,
-
musters and beach parties and friendly bees and huskings and house raisings
;
-
Where the mockingbird sounds his delicious gurgles and cackles and screams and
,
weeps
,
Where the hay rick stands the barnyard and the dry stalks are scattered and the
in
,
-
brood cow waits the hovel

in
,
do
to
to
Where the bull advances his masculine work and the stud the mare and the
,
cock treading the

is
hen
,
Where the heifers browse and the geese nip their food with short jerks
;
,
Leaves of Gras s . 37
Where the sundown shadows lengthen over the limitless and lonesome prairie ,
Where the herds of buffalo make a crawling spread of the square miles far and
near ;
Where the hummingbird shimmers where the neck of the longlived swan is
curving and winding ;
Where the laughing - gull scoots by the slappy shore and laughs her near -human
laugh ;
Where beehives range on a gray bench in the garden half - hid by the high weeds ;
Where the band -necked partridges roost in a ring on the ground with their heads
out ;
Where burial coaches enter the arched gates of a cemetery ;
Where winter wolves bark amid wastes of snow and icicled trees ;
Where the yellow -crowned heron comes to the edge of the marsh at night and feeds
upon small crabs ;
Where the splash of swimmers and divers cool the warm noon ;
Where the katydid works her chromatic reed on the walnut - tree over the well ;
Through patches of citrons and cucumbers with silver -wired leaves ,

Through the salt - lick or orange glade or under conical furs .... ;
Through the gymnasium through the curtained saloon ... through the office
or public hall ;
Pleased with the native and pleased with the foreign .. pleased with the new
and old ,
Pleased with women , the homely as well as the handsome,
off
Pleased with the quakeress as she puts her bonnet and talks melodiously
,
Pleased with the primitive tunes
of
of
the choir the whitewashed church
,
the sweating Methodist preacher any preacher
or
of
Pleased with the earnest words ,

looking seriously the camp meeting
at
..
;
-
Looking Broadway the whole forenoon pressing the ....

of in
in
at
the shop windows

to -
flesh my nose the thick plate lass

,
-g
up
Wandering the same afternoon with my face turned

to
the clouds
;
My right and left arms round the sides

in
two friends and the middle

of
Coming home with the bearded and dark cheeked bush oy riding behind him ....
-
-b
the drape
the day
at
of
Far from the settlements studying the print the moccasin print
or
of
animals feet
;
,
'
By
the hospital reaching lemonade feverish patient

to
the cot
in
By the coffined
all
corpse when still examining with candle

is
a
,
Voyaging every port

to
dicker and adventure

to
Hurrying with the modern crowd any

as
as
eager and fickle

,
Hot toward one hate ready my madness

in
to
knife him
I
;
,
Solitary midnight my back yard my thoughts gone from me long while

at
of in
a
,
,
by
Walking the old hills Judea with the beautiful gentle god my side
;
Speeding through space speeding through heaven and the stars

.
Speeding amid the seven satellites and the broad ring and the diameter eighty
of
thousand miles
,
Speeding with tailed meteors ....

...
throwing fire -balls like the rest,
its
its
Carrying the crescent child that carries own full mother belly
in
:
Storming enjoying planning loving cautioning
,
Backing and filling appearing and disappearing
,
tread day and night such roads
I
.
visit the orchards the spheric product
at
of
God and look
I
,
And look quintillions ripened and look quintillions green
at
at
,
.
fly
the flight
the fluid and swallowing soul
of
I
,
My course runs below the soundings plummets
of
.
help myself
to
material and immaterial
,
I
off
No guard can shut me law can prevent me

no
,
.
anchor my ship for little while only
a
I
,
My messengers continually cruise away bring their returns
to
or
me
.
....
go
hunting polar furs and the seal leaping chasms with pike pointed staff
a
I
-
clinging topples brittle and blue
of
to
....
take my place late night ....
to
the foretruck the crow's nest at
in
ascend
I
....
we
sail through the arctic sea plenty light enough

it
,
is
on
Through the clear atmosphere stretch around the wonderful beauty
,
I
The enormous masses ice pass me and pass them the scenery plain ....
in
of
is
I
all directions
,
....
up
The white topped mountains point the distance fling out my fancies
in
I
-
toward them
;
we
be
approaching great battlefield
in
to
We are about some which are soon
engaged
,
....
we
We pass the colossal outposts the encampment pass with still feet and
of
caution
;
1
Or we are entering by the suburbs some vast and ruined city the blocks and
all
the living cities the globe

of
fallen architecture more than

.
....
by
am free companion bivouac invading watchfires

.
.
a
I
turn the bridegroom out bed and stay with the bride myself
to of
,>
I
all
And tighten her night my thighs and lips

.
by
My voice the wife's voice the screech the rail the stairs
of
is
,
up
They fetch my man's body dripping and drowned

.
understand the large hearts

of
heroes
I
,
all
The courage present times and times

of
;
Leaves of Gra s s. 39
How the skipper saw the crowded and rudderless wreck of the steamship , and death
chasing it up and down the storm ,
How he knuckled tight and gave not back one inch , and was faithful of days and
faithful of nights ,
And chalked in large letters on a board , Be of good cheer , We will not desert you ;
How he saved the drifting company at last ,
How the lank loose - gowned women looked when boated from the side of their
prepared graves ,
How the silent old -faced infants , and the lifted sick , and the sharp - lipped unshaved
men ;
All this I swallow and it tastes good .... I like it well , and it becomes mine,
I am the man . I suffered .
... I was there .
The disdain and calmness of . martyrs ,

The mother condemned for a witch and burnt with dry wood , and her children
gazing on ;
The hounded slave that flags in the race and leans by the fence , blowing and
covered with sweat,
The twinges that sting like needles his legs and neck ,
The murderous buckshot and the bullets ,
All these I feel or am .
Iam the hounded slave .... I wince at the bite of the dogs ,
Hell and despair are upon me .... crack and again crack the marksmen ,
I clutch the rails of the fence . . . . my gore dribs thinned with the ooze of my skin ,
Ifall on the weeds and stones ,
The riders spur their unwilling horses and haul close ,
They taunt my dizzy ears ....
they beat me violently over the head with their
whip -stocks .
Agonies are one of my changes of garments ;

I do not ask the wounded person how he feels .... I myself become the wounded
person ,
My hurt turns livid upon me as I lean on a cane and observe.
I am the mashed fireman with breastbone broken ... tumbling walls buried me in
their debris ,
Heat and smoke I inspired .... I
heard the yelling shouts of my comrades ,
Iheard the distant click of their picks and shovels ;
They have cleared the beams away . ....
they tenderly lift me forth .
I red shirt ....

air
lie
the night my the pervading hush for my sake

in
in
is
,
all
lie
Painless after unhappy

so
exhausted but not

,
I
White and beautiful are the faces around me the heads are bared ....
their fire
of
caps
,
The kneeling crowd fades with the light

of
the torches
.
Distant and dead resuscitate ,

They show as the dial or move as the hands of me . . .. and I am the clock myself .
I ....
old
and am there again
of
am an artillerist and tell some fort's bombardment
.
Again the reveille drummers again the attacking cannon and mortars and
of
.
howitzers
,
Again the attacked send their cannon responsive
.
take part ....
and hear the whole
see
I
,
The cries and curses and roar ....
the plaudits for well aimed shots
,
its
The ambulanza slowly passing and trailing red drip
,
Workmen searching after damages and make indispensible repairs
to
,
The fall grenades through the rent roof the fan shaped explosion ....
of
,
air
The whizz limbs heads stone wood and iron high
of
the
in
.
Again my dying general .... furiously
he
gurgles
of
the mouth waves with his

hand
,
He gasps through the clot .... Mind not me .... mind .... the entrenchments
.
.... Alamo
to
tell not the fall not one escaped
Alamo tell the fall
of
of
,
I
The hundred and fifty are dumb yet

at
Alamo
.
jetblack sunrise
of
Hear now the tale

in a
Hear the murder four hundred and twelve young men

of
cold blood
of
.
Retreating they had formed hollow square with their baggage for breastworks
in
a
,
Nine hundred lives out surrounding enemy's nine times their number was the
of
the
price they took advance
in
Their colonel was wounded and their ammunition gone

,
up
for
They treated honorable capitulation received writing and seal gave

an
their
,
arms and marched back prisoners

of
war
,
They were the glory the race rangers

of
of
supper courtship
or
Matchless with horse rifle song

a
a
a
a
,
,
,
Large turbulent brave handsome proud and affectionategenerous

,
,
,
Bearded sunburnt dressed the free costume hunters

in
of
,
Not single one over thirty years age

of
a
The second Sunday morning they were brought out squads and massacred ....
in
it
was beautiful early summer

,
The work commenced about five o'clock and was over by eight
.
to
None obeyed the command kneel

,
Some made mad and helpless rush .... some stood stark and straight
at a
the temple .... the living and dead lay together

or
few fell once shot heart

in
A
,
,
1
L e a ves of Grass . 41
The maimed and mangled dug in the dirt .... the new -comers saw them there ;
Some half -killed attempted to crawl away ,
These were dispatched with bayonets or battered with the blunts of muskets ;
A youth not seventeen years old seized his assassin till two more came to release
him ,
all
The three were torn and covered with the boy's blood
.
At eleven o'clock began the burning
of
the bodies
;
And that the tale the murder the four hundred and twelve young men
of
is
of
,
And that was jetblack sunrise
a
.
Did you read the oldfashioned frigate fight
in
the seabooks
of
?
-
by
Did you light
of
learn who won the the moon and stars
?
Our foe was no skulk tell you
in
his ship
,
I
,
no
His was the English pluck tougher
or
and there is truer and never was and
,
,
,
be
never will
;
Along the lowered eve

he
horribly raking
us
came
,
.
We closed with him ....
the yards entangled .... the cannon touched
,
My captain lashed fast with his own hands
.
We had received some eighteen pound shots under the water ,

-
the first fire killing
all
On our lower un deck two large pieces had burst
at
around
,
-
-g
up
and blowing overhead

.
on
Ten o'clock night and the full moon shining and the leaks the gain and five feet
at
,
of
water reported
,
The master arms loosing the prisoners confined give them

to
the after hold

in
at
a
-
chance for themselves

.
by
The transit and from the magazine was now stopped

to
the sentinels
,
They saw many strange faces they did not know whom
to
trust
so
Our frigate was afire ....

the other asked we demanded quarters our colors
if
if
?
were struck and the fighting done

?
laughed content when heard the voice my little captain

of
I
,
I
composedly cried We have just begun our part

he
of
We have not struck the

,
fighting
.
Only three guns were

in
use
,
by
One was directed the captain himself against the enemy's mainmast
,
his
Two well served with grape and canister silenced his musketry and cleared decks
.
-
The tops alone seconded the fire of this little battery , especially the maintop ,
They
all
held out bravely during the whole the action
of
.
Not moment's cease
a
,
The leaks gained fast the pumps .... the fire eat toward the powder magazine
on
,
-
One the pumps was shot away was generally thought we were sinking
of
it
.
.
.
Serene stood the little captain
,
He was not hurried ....
his voice was neither high nor low
,
His eyes gave more light
us
than our battle lanterns
to
.
-
night the moon they surrendered
us
at
to
of
Toward twelve there the beams
in
,
.
Stretched and still lay the midnight
,
Two great hulls motionless on the breast
of
the darkness
,
Our vessel riddled and slowly sinking preparations
to
to
pass the one we had
conquered
on ,
The captain the quarter deck coldly giving his orders through countenance
a
as
white sheet
a
of ,
Near by the corpse

in
the child that served the cabin
,
of of of an
The dead face long white hair and carefully curled whiskers
of
old salt with
,
all
The flames spite done flickering aloft and below

be
that could
,
The husky voices three officers yet for duty
or
fit
the two
,
Formless stacks bodies and bodies by .... upon
of
themselves dabs flesh the
masts and spars
,
The cut cordage and dangle rigging the slight shock
of
of
of
of
the soothe
waves
,
Black and impressive guns and litter powder arcels and the strong scent
of
,
,
,
-p
...
by
of
Delicate sniffs the seabreeze sedgy grass and fields

of
smells the shore

.
death messages given

to
survivors charge
in
,
of -
The hiss the surgeon's knife and the gnawing teeth his saw
of
The wheeze the cluck the swash falling blood ....

of
the short wild scream the

,
long dull tapering groan

,
.... these irretrievable

so
These
.
Christ My mastering me
fit
is
O
What the rebel said gaily adjusting his throat the rope noose
to
,
-
What the savage the stump his eye sockets empty his mouth spirting whoops
at
,
-
and defiance
,
What stills the traveler come Mount Vernon

to
at
the vault
,
Brooklyn boy
he
What sobers the

as
of
looks down the shores the Wallabout and

remembers the prison ships
,
Saratoga when surrendered his brigades

he
What burnt the

at
gums
the redcoat
of
These become mine and me every one and they are but little
,
,
as
become much more as like

I
I
.
Leaves of Grass .
43
I any presence or truth of humanity here ,

become
And see myself in prison shaped like another man ,
And feel the dull unintermitted pain .
For me the keepers of convicts shoulder their carbines and keep watch ,
It I
let
the morning and barred night
in
at
is out
.
Not jail but
to
to
mutineer walks handcuffed the am handcuffed him and walk
a
I
by his side
,
am less the jolly one there and more the silent one with sweat
on
my twitching
I
,
lips
.
up
go
Not youngster taken for larceny but too and am tried and sentenced
is
a
.
lie
Not cholera patient lies
at
at
the last gasp but also the last gasp
a
I
,
,
My face ash colored my sinews gnarl away from me people retreat
is
.
-
Askers embody themselves

in
in
me and am embodied them
,
I
,
sit
project my hat and shamefaced and beg

I
.
all
rise extatic through and sweep with the true gravitation

,
,
I
The whirling and whirling elemental within me

is
Somehow have been stunned Stand back

I
!
.
Give me little time beyond my cuffed head and slumbers and dreams and gaping
a
,
myself
on
discover verge the usual mistake

of
a
I
That could forget the mockers and insults

I I I
That could forget the trickling tears and the blows the bludgeons and bammers
of
!
my own crucifixion and bloody crowning
on
That could look with separate look

a
!
remember .... resume the overstaid fraction
I
multiplies what has been confided

to
grave
or
The
to
any
of
rock
..
it
graves
,
The corpses rise .... the gashes heal .... the fastenings roll away
.
an
troop forth replenished with supreme power average unending

of
one
I
procession
,
Ohio and Massachusetts and Virginia and Wisconsin and

of
We walk the roads

New York and New Orleans and Texas and Montreal and San Francisco and
Charleston and Savannah and Mexico
,
....
by
we
Inland and the seacoast and boundary lines and pass the boundary lines
.
on
Our swift ordinances are their way over the whole earth
,
we
The blossoms wear our hats are the growth two thousand years
in
of
.
Eleves I
salute you ,
I see the approach of your numberless gangs I see you understand yourselves ....
and me ,
And know that they who have eyes are divine , and the blind and lame are equally
divine ,
And that my steps drag behind yours yet go before them ,
And are aware how I am with you no more than I am with everybody .
The friendly and flowing savage Who is he ? ....

Is he waiting for civilization or past it and mastering it ?
Is he some southwesterner raised outdoors ? Is he Canadian ?
Is he from the Mississippi country ? or from Iowa, Oregon or California ? or from

the mountain ? or prairie life or bush - life ? or from the sea ?
Wherever he goes men and women accept and desire him ,

They desire he should like them and touch them and speak to them and stay with
them .
Behaviour lawless as snow - flakes .... words simple as grass .... uncombed head
and laughter and naivete ;
Slowstepping feet and the common features , and the common modes and emanations ,
They descend in new forms from the tips of his fingers,
....
fly
They are wafted with the odor of his body or breath they the glance
of
out
of
his eyes
.
lie
Flaunt need not your bask

of
the sunshine over

I
,
.
.
.
.
You light surfaces only .... force the surfaces and the depths also
I
you seem look for something my hands

to
at
Earth
,
!
Say old topknot you want

do
what
?
!
Man might tell how like you but cannot

or
woman
I
,
!
And might tell what me and what you but cannot

in
in
is
it
it
is
,
,
And might pinings the pulse ....

my nights and days
of
tell the have

I
not give lectures little charity

do
or
Behold
a
,
I
What give give out myself

of
I
till
You impotent the knees open your scarfed chops blow grit
in
there loose
,
I
,
within you
,
Spread your palms and lift the flaps your pockets

of
denied
to
have stores plenty and

am
not be compel spare

to
I
.
I
I
And any thing have bestow

I
I
.
I do notask who you are .. that is not important to me,

You can do nothing and be nothing but what I will infold you .
To a drudge of the cottonfields or emptier of privies I lean .... on his right cheek
I put the family kiss 2,
And in my soul I swear I never will deny him .
for conception
fit
On women start bigger and nimbler babes
,
This day jetting far more arrogant republics
of
am the stuff
I
.
....
To
any one dying speed and twist the knob
of
thither the door
,>
I
Turn the bedclothes toward the foot
of
the bed
,
go
Let the physician and the priest home
.
seize the descending man .... raise him with resistless will
I
.
despairer here my neck
O
is
,
,
go
By God you shall not down Hang your whole weight upon me
!
.
....
up
dilate you with tremendous breath buoy you
I
;
I
....
fill
Every room
do
of
of
the house with am armed force lovers me bafflers
.
I
,
graves
of
and they keep guard

all
Sleep night
I
!
Not doubt not decease shall dare lay finger upon you
to
,
have embraced you and henceforth possess you myself

to
I
,
,
And when you rise the morning you will find what tell you
in
so
is
I
bringing help for the sick they pant

he
on
as
am their backs
I
And for strong upright men bring yet more needed help
I
heard what was said

of
the universe
I
Heard several thousand years

as of
and heard
it
middling well .... that all

as
far goes but

It
is
it
is
Magnifying and applying come

I,
Outbidding
at
the start the old cautious hucksters

,
The most they offer for mankind and eternity less than spirt my own seminal
of
a
wet
,
Taking myself the exact dimensions Jehovah and laying them away
of
Lithographing Kronos and Zeus his son and Hercules his grandson
,
,
Buying drafts Osiris and Isis and Belus and Brahma and Adonai
of
,
on
my portfolio placing Manito loose and Allah leaf and the crucifix engraved
In
,
a
,
,
all
With Odin and the hideous faced Mexitli and idols and images
,
,
-
all
Honestly taking them for what they are worth and not cent more
a
,
Admitting they were alive and did the work day

of
their
,
fly
Admitting they bore mites as for unfledged birds who have now to rise and and
sing for themselves
fill
Accepting the rough deific sketches myself bestowing them
to
out better
in
.
.
on
freely each man and woman see
I
,
Discovering framer framing
or
as
much more
in
house
,
up
Putting higher claims for him there with his rolled sleeves driving the mallet and
,
-
chisel ;
....
on
Not objecting special revelations considering
or
to
of
curl smoke hair
a
my hand any revelation
as
as
the back curious
of of
to
fire ngines and hook and ladder ropes more me than the gods
of
Those ahold
-
-
-e
the antique wars
,
Minding their voices peal through the crash
of
destruction
,
Their brawny limbs passing safe over charred laths their white foreheads whole ....
and unhurt out
of
the flames
;
By the mechanic's wife with her
for
her nipple interceding every person
at
babe
born
;
Three scythes harvest whizzing three lusty

at
row from angels with shirts

in
a
at
bagged out their waists

;
The snag toothed hostler with red hair redeeming sins past and
to
come
,
all -
for
sit
Selling possesses and traveling fee lawyers
he
on
foot to his brother and

by
he
him while tried for forgery

is
What was strewn the amplest strewing the square rod about me and not filling
in
,
the square rod then
;
The bull and the bug never worshipped half enough

,
Dung and dirt more admirable than was dreamed

,
myself waiting my time
be
to
The supernatural
no
one the
of
of
account
supremes
,
The day getting ready for me when
be
do
as
as
as
shall much good the best and
I
prodigious ,
,
Guessing when will not tickle receive puffs out pulpit
or
to
of
1
am me much
it
I
print
;
By my life lumps becoming already creator

a
!
-
Putting myself here and now

of
the shadows
to
the ambushed womb

!
....
of
call the midst the crowd

A
in
My own voice orotund sweeping and final

.
,
Come my children
,
Come my boys and girls and my women and household and intimates
11 1
,
....
on
has passed his prelude

he
Now the performer launches his nerve the reeds

within
.
Easily written loosefingered

of
chords feel the thrum their climax and close

I
!
My
on
head evolves my neck

,
Music rolls , but not from the organ .... folks are around me , but they are no
household of mine .
Ever the hard and unsunk ground ,

Ever the eaters and drinkers .... ever the upward and downward sun .... ever the
air and the ceaseless tides ,
Ever myself and my neighbors, refreshing and wicked and real,
Ever the old inexplicable query ....
ever that thorned thumb — that breath of itches
and thirsts ,
Ever the vexer's hoot ! hoot ! till we find where the sly one hides and bring him
forth ;
Ever love . . . .. ever the sobbing liquid of life ,
Ever the bandage under the chin ....
ever the tressels of death .
Here and there with dimes on the eyes walking ,

To feed the greed of the belly the brains liberally spooning ,
Tickets buying or taking or selling , but in to the feast never once going ;
Many sweating and ploughing and thrashing , and then the chaff for payment re
ceiving,
A few idly owning , and they the wheat continually claiming .
This is the city .... and I am one of the citizens ;

Whatever interests the rest interests me politics , churches , newspapers ,
schools ,
Benevolent societies , improvements , banks , tariffs , steamships, factories , markets ,
Stocks and stores and real estate and personal estate .
They who piddle and patter here in collars and tailed coats .... I am aware who
they are ....
and that they are not worms or fleas,
I
all
acknowledge the duplicates of myself under the scrape lipped and pipe legged
-
concealments
.
The weakest and shallowest deathless with me

is
,
do
What and say the same waits for them

,
I
Every thought that flounders me the same flounders

in
in
them
.
know perfectly well my own egotism

I
And know my omniverous words and cannot say any less

,
And would fetch you whoever you are flush with myself
.
My words indicate reality

questioning
to
of
are words and

a
This printed and bound book ....

but the printer and the printing office boy
?
of -
The marriage estate and settlement but the body and mind the bridegroom
.
.
?
of of
also those the bride

?
The panorama the sea .... but the sea itself

?
The well -taken photographs ... but your wife or friend close and solid in your
arms ?
....
all
The fleet of ships of the line and the modern improvements but the craft
and pluck
of
the admiral
?
The dishes and fare and furniture .... but the host and hostess and the look out
of
,
their eyes
?
The sky up yet here .... across the way
or
or
there next door
?
The saints and sages history but you yourself ....
in
?
Sermons and creeds and theology but the human brain .... and what called
is
,
reason and what called love and what called life
is
is
?
,
,
do
not despise you priests

I
;
My faith the greatest
of
all of
faiths and the least faiths
is
,
all
Enclosing worship ancient and modern and between ancient and modern
,
,
Believing shall come again upon the earth after five thousand years
I
,
.... ....
in the
Waiting responses from oracles honoring the gods saluting sun
,
Making stump powowing with sticks ....
or
of
fetish the first rock the circle
of
a
obis
,
Helping the lama trims the lamps

in he
or
as
of
brahmin the idols
,
Dancing yet through the streets phallic procession ....
rapt and austere
in
the
a
woods gymnosophist
a
,
,
Drinking mead from the skull cup .... .... minding

to
shasta and vedas admirant

-
the koran
,
Walking the teokallis
—
spotted with gore from the stone and knife beating the
,
serpent skin drum

;
-
Accepting the gospels accepting him that was crucified knowing assuredly that
he
,
,
divine
is
in —
To the mass kneeling the puritan's prayer rising sitting patiently pew
to
in
a
,
till
Ranting and frothing

—
my insane crisis waiting dead like my spirit arouses me
;
-
on
Looking forth pavement and land and outside pavement and land
of
,
Belonging
of
of
circuits
to
the winders the circuit

.
that centripetal and centrifugal gang

of
One
,
turn and talk like man leaving charges before journey

a
a
I
Down hearted doubters dull and excluded

,
,
-
Frivolous sullen moping angry affected disheartened atheistical

,
know every one you and know the unspoken interrogatories

of
,
I
By experience know them

I
How the flukes splash

!
How they contort rapid lightning with spasms and spouts

as
of
blood
,
peace bloody flukes doubters and sullen mopers

at
of
Be
,
take my place among you among any

as
as
much
I
;
all
The past is the push of you and me and precisely the same
,
all
And the day and night are for you and me and
all
And what yet untried and afterward for you and me and
is
is
.
do not know what untried and afterward
is
I
,
But know sure and alive and sufficient
it
is
I
.
Each who passes considered and each who stops considered and not single
is
is
a
,
,
one can fail
it
cannot fail the young man who died and was buried
It
,
by
Nor the young woman who died and was put his side
,
Nor the little child that peeped
in
at
the door and then drew back and was never
seen again
,
Nor the old man who has lived without purpose and feels with bitterness worse
it
,
than gall
,
by
Nor him the poorhouse tubercled

in
rum and the bad disorder
,
Nor the numberless slaughtered and wrecked nor the brutish koboo called the ....
,
humanity
of
ordure
,
Nor the sacs merely floating with open mouths for food slip
to
in
,
Nor any thing
or
the earth down the oldest graves the earth

in in
in
of
,
,
Nor any thing myriads spheres myriads myriads that in
of
the nor one the

of
of
,
habit them
,
Nor the present nor the least wisp that known

is
,
....
.up
us
explain myself
to
time let
It
stand
is
....
all
What known strip away launch men and women forward with me into
is
the unknown
.
The clock indicates the moment but what does eternity indicate
?
Eternity lies ....

its
buckets are rising forever and ever

in
bottomless reservoirs
,
They pour and they pour and they exhale away

.
We have thus far exhausted trillions

of
winters and summers

;
There are trillions ahead and trillions ahead

of
them
,
.
us
Births have brought richness and variety

,
And other births will bring richness and variety

us
.
do
not call one greater and one smaller

,
I
its
That which fills period and place equal any

to
is
jealous upon you my brother

or
Were mankind murderous my sister

or
?
Iam sorry for you ....
they are not murderous or jealous upon me ;
All has
been gentle with me . .....
I keep no account with lamentation ;
What have I to do with lamentation ?
I am an acme of things accomplished , and I an encloser of things to be .
My feet strike an apex of the apices of the stairs ,
-
On every step bunches of ages , and larger bunches between the steps ,
All below duly traveled and still I mount and mount .
Rise after rise bow the phantoms behind me ,

Afar down Ithe huge first Nothing , the vapor from the nostrils of death ,
see
I know I was even there ....
I waited unseen and always,
And slept while God carried me through the lethargic mist ,
And took my time . ....
and took no hurt from the foetid carbon .
Long I was hugged close .... long and long .
Immense have been the preparations for me ,

Faithful and friendly the arms that have helped me .
Cycles ferried my cradle , rowing and rowing like cheerful boatmen ;
For room to me stars kept aside in their own rings ,

They sent influences to look after what was to hold me .
Before I was born out of my mother generations guided me ,

My embryo has never been torrid . ....
nothing could overlay it ;
For it the nebula cohered to an orb ....
the long slow strata piled to rest it on
....vast vegetables gave it sustenance ,
Monstrous sauroids transported it in their mouths and deposited it with care .
All forces have been steadily employed to complete and delight me ,

Now I stand on this spot with my soul .
Span of youth ! Ever -pushed elasticity ! Manhood balanced and florid and full !
My lovers suffocate me !
Crowding my lips , and thick in the pores of my skin ,

Jostling me through streets and public halls ....
coming naked to me at night ,
Crying by day Ahoy from the rocks of the river ....
swinging and chirping over my
head,
Calling my name from flowerbeds or vines or tangled underbrush ,
Or while I swim in the bath ....
or drink from the pump at the corner .... or the
curtain is down at the opera . .
or I glimpse at a woman's face in the
railroad car ;
Lighting on every moment of my life ,

Bussing my body with soft and balsamic busses ,
Noiselessly passing handfuls out of their hearts and giving them to be mine .
Old age superbly rising ! Ineffable grace of dying days !
Every condition promulges not only itself .... it promulges what grows after and out
of itself ,
And the dark hush promulges as much as any .
I open my scuttle at night and see the far -sprinkled systems,

see
all
multiplied high cipher
of
And
as
as
can edge but the rim the farther
I
I
,
,
systems
.
Wider and wider they spread expanding and always expanding

,
,
Outward and outward and forever outward
.
his
My sun has and round him obediently wheels

sun
,
,
his
He joins with partners group superior circuit

of
a
,
And greater making specks the greatest inside
of
sets follow them

,
.
no
be
There stoppage and never can stoppage

is
;
,
all
all
and you and the worlds and upon their surfaces
or
and the
If
beneath
,
I
palpable life were this moment reduced back pallid float

to
would not
it
a
,
,
long
in
avail the run

,
up
we
We should surely bring again where now stand

,
go
surely much farther and then farther and farther

as
And
as
do .
few quadrillions cubic leagues not hazard the span

of
few octillions
of
A
eras
a
,
,
,
impatient
or
make
it
They are but parts .... any thing but part

a
is
....
so
limitless space outside

of
See ever far there that

is
....
,
limitless time around that

so
Count ever much there

is
fitly appointed ....

be
Our rendezvous God will there and wait till we come

is
know have the best

of
time and space and that was never measured and

I
,
I
never will be measured

.
tramp perpetual journey

a
I
My signs are rain proof coat and good shoes and staff cut from the woods
a
;
-
No friend my chair
of
mine takes his ease

in
,
no no
have chair nor church nor philosophy

,
I I
library
or
or
to
lead man dinner table exchange

a
,
-
But each man and each woman of you I lead upon a knoll,
My left hand hooks you round the waist ,
My right hand points to landscapes of continents , and a plain public road .
Not I , not any one else can travel that road for you ,
You must travel it for yourself .
It is not far ....

it is within reach ,
Perhaps you have been on it since you were born , and did not know ,
Perhaps it is every where on water and on land .
Shoulder your duds , and I will mine , and
let
us
hasten forth
;
.go
as
Wonderful cities and free nations we shall fetch we
on
you tire give me both burdens and rest the chuff your hand my hip
of
If
,
And due time you shall repay the same service
to
in
me
;
lie
For after we start we never by again .
This day before dawn
at
ascended hill and looked the crowded heaven
,
a
I
And my spirit those orbs and the plea

to
be of
said When we become the enfolders
I
we
sure and knowledge every thing
in
we of
them shall filled and satisfied then

,
?
And my spirit said No level that lift and continue beyond
to
pass
,
.
You are also asking me questions and hear you
I
;
,
answer that cannot answer you must find out for yourself
I
.
.
.
Sit awhile wayfarer
to ,
1
milk
to
Here are biscuits eat and here drink

is
But you sleep and renew yourself will certainly kiss you
in
as
as
soon sweet clothes

I
!
with my goodbye kiss and open the gate for your egress hence
.
Long enough have you dreamed contemptible dreams

,
Now wash the gum from your eyes

I
You must habit yourself the light and every moment your
to
of
of
of
the dazzle
life
by
Long have you timidly waded holding plank the shore

a
,
Now will you

be
to
bold swimmer
a
,
I
off
To jump the sea and rise again and nod

to
the midst me and shout and

in
of
,
,
laughingly dash with your hair

.
of
am the teacher athletes

I
,
by
me
He
spreads wider breast than my own proves the width my own

of
that
a
He most honors my style destroy the teacher

to
who learns under

it
.
The boy I love , the same becomes a man not through derived power but in his own
right,
Wicked , rather than virtuous out of conformity of fear ,
Fond of his sweetheart , relishing well his steak ,
Unrequited love or a slight cutting him worse than a wound cuts ,
hit
First rate to ride , to fight , to sing play
or
to
to
the bull's eye sail skiff song
a
,
,
on
the banjo
,
all
Preferring scars and faces pitted with smallpox over latherers and those that
keep out the sun
of
.
teach straying from me yet who can stray from me
I I
?
,
follow you whoever you are from the present hour
;
My words itch your ears till you understand them
at
.
up
fill
is do
not say these things for

or
to
dollar the time while wait for boat
a
a
I
It It I
;
,
you talking just myself .... the tongue you

as
as
be as
of
much act
,
I
your mouth ....
to
begins
in
mine loosened
in
was tied
it
.
will never mention love
or
swear death inside house

a
I
,
I
all
And never will translate myself only her who privately
or
at
to
swear him
I
,
air
stays with me the open

in
.
go
you would understand me the heights

or or
to
If
water shore
,
-
an
The nearest gnat explanation and drop the motion of waves key
is
,
The maul the oar and the handsaw second my words
.
No shuttered room
or
school can commune with me

,
But roughs and little children better than they

.
The young mechanic knows me pretty well ....

he
to
closest me
is
all
The woodman that takes his axe and jug with him shall take me with him day ,
The farmboy ploughing my voice
in
at
the field feels good

of
the sound
,
....
go
In
vessels that sail my words must sail with fishermen and seamen and
I
love them
,
My face rubs
he
to
the hunter's face when lies down alone his blanket

in
The driver thinking me does not mind the jolt his wagon
of
of
The young mother and old mother shall comprehend me

,
The girl and the wife rest the needle moment and forget where they are
a
They and
all
would resume what have told them

I
have said that the soul not more than the body
is
I
And have said that the body not more than the soul
is
,
I
And nothing not God greater

to
one than one's self

is
to is
-
,
his
And whoever walks furlong without sympathy walks

in
own funeral dressed

a
his shroud
,
And I or you pocketless of a dime may purchase the pick of the earth ,
all
its
And to glance with an eye or show a bean in pod confounds the learning
of
times
no
And there employment but the young man following may become
or
trade
it
is
a
hero
no
And there object
so
soft but makes
hub for the wheeled universe
it
is
,
And any man woman shall stand cool and supercilious before
or
million universes
.
And
to
call mankind Be not curious about God
,
I I
,
For who am curious about each am not curious about God
,
array terms can say how much peace about God and about death
at
No am
of
.
hear and behold God every object yet understand God not the least
in
in
,
I
I
,
do
more wonderful than myself
be
Nor understand who there can
I
.
Why should see God better than this day
to
wish
I
?
something God each hour the twenty four
and each moment then
of
of
see
,
I
in -
In
my own face
in
the glass
of
the faces men and women see God and

I
;
,
find letters from God dropped

the street and every signed by God's name
in
one
is
I
,
for
And leave them where they are know that others will punctually come for
I
I
,
ever and ever

.
And you death and you bitter hug mortality .... try
as
to
to
of
alarm
to
idle
it
is
,
me
.
To his work without flinching the accoucheur comes

,
see the elderhand pressing receiving supporting

I I
....
by
the exquisite flexible doors

of
recline the sills and mark the outlet and

.
,
mark the relief and escape
.
And you corpse

think you are good manure but that does not offend me
as
to
,
smell the white roses sweetscented and growing
,
I I
the leafy lips the polished breasts

to
to
reach
of
reach melons
.
I
.
.
And you life reckon you are the leavings many deaths
as
to
of
,
I
No doubt have died myself ten thousand times before

I
hear you whispering there

of
stars heaven
O
I
....
perpetual transfers and promotions ....
O
suns grass graves

of
if
O
O
do
you not say anything how can say anything

I
?
Of Of
the turbid pool that lies

the autumn forest
in
the moon that descends the steeps the soughing twilight

of
....
on
Toss sparkles day and dusk the black stems that decay
of
toss the muck

in
,
the moaning gibberish the dry limbs

to
of
Toss
.
1 1
L ea ves of Gras s . 55
I the moon
ascend from ....
I ascend from the night ,
And perceive of the ghastly glitter the sunbeams reflected ,
And debouch to the steady and central from the offspring great or small .
There is that in me I do not know what it is ... but I know it is in me.
Wrenched and sweaty calm and cool then my body becomes ;
Isleep ....
I sleep long .
I do not know it .... it is without name it is a word unsaid ,
It is not in any dictionary or utterance or symbol .
Something it swings on more than the earth I swing on ,

To it the creation is the friend whose embracing awakes me .
Perhaps I might tell more .... Outlines ! I plead for my brothers and sisters.
Do you see O my brothers and sisters ?
It is not chaos or death .... it is form and union and plan .... it is eternal life
it is happiness .
The past and present wilt .... I have filled them and emptied them ,
fill
And proceed to my next fold

of
the future
.
.... what
up
Here you
to
Listener there have you confide to me
?
!
Look my face while evening

in
of
snuff the sidle

,
I
no
Talk honestly for one else hears you and stay only minute longer
a
I
,
.
Do contradict myself
I
Very well then .... contradict myself

;
I
am large contain multitudes

I
I
....
on
concentrate toward them that are nigh wait the door slab
I
.
-
Who has done his day's work and will soonest

be
through with his supper

?
Who wishes
to
walk with me
?
Will you speak before am gone Will you prove already too late
I
....
by
The spotted hawk swoops complains my gab and my

he
and accuses me
of
loitering
.
too am not bit tamed

too am untranslatable
a
I I
,
I
my yawp
of
sound barbaric over the roofs the world

.
The last scud day holds back for me

of
,
56 L e a ves of Gras s .
It flings my likeness after the rest and true as any on the shadowed wilds,
It coaxes me to the vapor and the dusk .
I ....
air
depart as shake my white locks the runaway sun
at
I
,
effuse my flesh eddies and drift lacy jags
in
in
it
I
.
bequeath myself the dirt grow from the grass
to
to
love
If I
I
,
you want me again look for me under your bootsoles
.
You will hardly know who am
or
what mean
,
be
But shall good health you nevertheless
to
I
,
And filter and fibre your blood
.
Failing
to
at
fetch me me first keep encouraged
,
Missing me one place search another
,
stop some where waiting for you
I
Leaves of Grass .
OME closer to me,

Push close my lovers and take the best I possess ,
Yield closer and closer and give me the best you possess .
This is unfinished business with me ....

how is it with you ?
I was chilled with the cold types and cylinder and wet paper between us .
I pass so poorly with paper and types .... I must pass with the contact of bodies
and souls .
I do not thank you for liking me as I am , and liking the touch of me . I know that
it is good for you to do so .
all
Were educations practical and ornamental well displayed out of me what would
,
amount to
I it
charitable proprietor
or
or
as
Were the head teacher wise statesman what would

,
as to
amount
it
you the boss employing and paying you would that satisfy you
to
Were
I
?
,
The learned and virtuous and benevolent and the usual terms
,
man like me and never the usual terms

A
Neither servant nor master am

no a
I,
take sooner large price than small price .... will have my own whoever
a
a
I
enjoys me
,
even with you and you shall

be
be
will even with me

I
you are nigh the nighest that works

or
in
as
as
If
workman workwoman stand

a
the same shop

,
on
you bestow gifts your brother your

or
as
as
good
If
dearest friend demand

,
I
or
brother dearest friend

,
your lover welcome by day night personally

be
or
or
or
as
husband wife must

If
is
,
I
welcome
;
If you have become degraded or will become for your sake
so
then
ill
;
I
,
do
you remember your foolish and outlawed deeds you think cannot remember
If
I
my foolish and outlawed deeds
?
you carouse say will carouse the opposite side
at
at
If If the table the table
of
I
;
do
you meet some stranger
or
the street and love him her not often meet
in
I
,
strangers the street and love them
in
?
you just you
as
good deal remarkable
If
much remarkable
in
in
see me see
a
.
Why what have you thought yourself
of
?
you then that thought yourself less
Is Is
it it
off
you that thought the President greater than you the rich better than
or
?
you the educated wiser than you
or
?
?
or or
Because you are greasy that you was once drunk
pimpled
or
or
or
thief
a
,
,
prostitute or are So now from frivolity
or
or
or
diseased rheumatic a
,
no print
-
impotence that you are scholar and never saw your name
or
in
,
you give you any
do
immortal
in
that are less
?
not you
of
Souls men and women call unseen unheard untouchable and

it
is
,
I
,
!
untouching
;
go
not you argue pro and con about settle whether you are alive
or
to
and
It
is
no
;
own publicly who you are nobody else owns ... and see and hear you and
if
.
I
,
what you give and take
;
What there you cannot give and take

is
not merely that you are polite single .... ....

or
or
see whitefaced married
I
or
some profession
of
of
citizens old states citizens new states eminent in

... lady gentleman parlor the jail uniform
or
or
in
in
..
dressed
a
a
pulpit uniform
or
Not only the free Utahan Kansian .... not only the free Cuban ...
or
Arkansian
,
not merely the slave .... Flatfoot from

or
not Mexican native negro

or
>
,
Africa
,
Iroquois eating his lair rocks and sand

in
of
the warflesh fishtearer

Esquimaux ....
in
the dark cold snowhouse Chinese with his transverse eyes

.... or
-
wandering nomad
at
tabounschik the head his

or
of
Bedowee
droves
,
out
—
Grown half rown and babe this country and every country indoors and
-
of
,
,
-g
all
doors through them

or
see and else behind

is
I
not one jot less than the husband

—
The wife and she

is
just
—
The daughter
as
as
and she good the son

is
,
—
The mother every bit

as
as
and she much the father

is
.
-
Offspring boys apprenticed

to
those not rich

of
trades
,
Young fellows working on farms and old fellows working on farms ;

The naive ....
the simple and hardy ....
he going to the polls to vote he ....
who has a good time , and he who has a bad time ;
Mechanics , southerners , new arrivals ,> sailors , mano'warsmen , merchantmen , coast
ers ,
All these I see but nigher and farther the same I see ;
None shall escape me , and none shall wish to escape me .
I bring what you much need , yet always have ,

I bring not money or amours or dress or eating ....
but I bring as good ;
And send no agent or medium .... and offer no representative of value — but offer
the value itself .
There is something that comes home to one now and perpetually ,

It is not what is printed or preached or discussed it eludes .... discussion and
print,
It is not to be put ina book .... it is not in this book ,
It is for you whoever you are it is no farther from you than your hearing and
sight are from you ,
It is hinted by nearest and commonest and readiest ....
it is not them , though it is
endlessly provoked by them .... What is there ready and near you now ?
You may read in many languages and read nothing about it ;

You may read the President's message and read nothing about it there ;
Nothing in the reports from the state department or treasury department .... or in
the daily papers , or the weekly papers ,
Or in the census returns or assessors ' returns or prices current or any accounts of
stock .
....
air
we
The sun and stars that float in the open the appleshaped earth and upon
....
surely the drift them something grand
of
it
it is
;
do
not know what except that grand and that happiness

it
it
is
is
is
,
I
And that the enclosing purport speculation motor

us
not
or
of
here bon
is
-
,
reconnoissance
,
by
And that not something which luck may turn out well for
us
and without
is
it
,
be
us
luck must failure for

a
And not something which may yet certain contingency

be
retracted
in
a
.
—
The light and shade body and identity the greed that
of
the curious sense

-
—
all
with perfect complaisance devours things the endless pride and out
—
stretching unspeakable joys and sorrows

of
man
,
The wonder every one sees every one else and the wonders that fill ....
of he
in
sees
of
each minute time forever and each acre surface and space forever
,
60 L ea ves of Grass .
Have you reckoned them as mainly for a trade or farmwork ? or for the profits of
fill
a store ? or to achieve yourself a position gentleman's leisure
or
or to
a
?
a
lady's leisure
?
Have you reckoned the landscape took substance and form that might painted
be
it
picture
in
a
?
Or Or
men and women that they might and songs sung
be
of
written
?
,
gravity and the great laws and harmonious combinations
of
the attraction and
subjects for the savans
as
the fluids the air of
?
Or the brown land and the blue sea for maps and charts
?
put constellations and named fancy names
be
Or the stars
in
to
?
Or
that the growth for agricultural tables agriculture itself
or
of
seeds
is
?
Old institutions these ....
arts libraries legends collections and the practice
-
along will we rate them ....
so
handed manufactures high
in
?
....
no
Will we rate our prudence and business objection
so
high have
,
I
?
high the highest ....
of
but child born woman and man rate
all as
as
rate them
aa
I
I
beyond rate
.
We thought our Union grand and our Constitution grand
;
—
not say they are not grand and good for they are
do
-
I I
,
am this day just you
as
all as
much love with them

in
,
But am eternally love with you and with my fellows upon the earth
in
I
.
We consider the bibles and religions divine ....
do
not say they are not divine
,
I
all
say they have grown out you and may grow out you still
of
of
I
,
not they who give the life ....
you who give the life
It
it
is
is
;
trees from the earth than they are shed
or
Leaves are not more shed from the trees

out you
of
up
all
The sum known value and respect you whoever you are
of
add
in
I
;
up
The President the White House for you not you who are
in
there
it
is
is
.
.
here for him

,
The Secretaries act their bureaus for you not you here for them ....
in
The Congress convenes every December for you

,
Laws courts the forming cities the going and coming

of
of
states the charters

of
,
,
,
commerce and mails are all for you

.
all
All doctrines politics and civilization exurge from you

,
All sculpture and monuments and anything inscribed anywhere are tallied you
in in
The gist you this

as
as
histories and statistics far back the records reach

of
is
–
hour and myths and tales the same

;
all
be
you were not breathing and walking here where would they
If
....
be
plays
be
The most renowned poems would ashes orations and would

vacuums
.
All architecture is what you do to it when you look upon it ;

Did you think it was in the white or gray stone ? or the lines of the arches and
cornices ?
All music is what awakens from you when you are reminded by the instruments ,
It is not the violins and the cornets .... it is not the oboe nor the beating drums
nor the notes of the baritone singer singing his sweet romanza ....
.
nor those
of the men's chorus , nor those of the women's chorus ,
It is nearer and farther than they .
Will the whole come back then ?
Can each see the signs of the best by a look in the lookingglass ? Is there nothing
greater or more ?
sit
all
Does there with you and here with me
?
The old forever new things you foolish child .... the closest simplest things
!
this moment with you
,
Your person and every particle that relates your person

to
,
The your waiting their chance and encouragement every deed
at
pulses
of
brain
sight
or
by
Anything you
do
public day and anything you secret betweendays

do
in
in
,
,
What called right and what called wrong what you behold or touch
is
is
what causes your anger

or
wonder
of ,
The anklechain the gambler

of
of
the slave the bed the bedhouse the cards the
,
,
plates the forger
of
What intuitively learned

or
or
in
seen learned the street

is is
,
,
—
What public spelling reading writing and ciphering

in
learned the school

-
,,
,
the blackboard and the teacher's diagrams

:
....
all
The panes that appears through them the going forth

of
the windows and

the morning and the aimless spending the day
of
in
What that you made money what that you got what you wanted
is
is
it
it
?
?
(
The usual routine ....

the workshop factory yard office store
or
desk
;
,
of ,
The jaunt hunting

fishing hunting fishing
or
or
or
of
the life
,
,
all
Pasturelife foddering
milking and herding and the personnel and usages
,
The plum orchard and apple orchard gardening seedlings cuttings flowers
..
,
-
and vines
,
Grains and manures marl clay loam the subsoil plough the shovel and pick
..
..
..
,
and rake and hoe irrigation and draining

;
.
.
The currycomb the very wisps

..
the horse cloth the halter and bridle and bits

..
..
-
of
straw
,
The barn and barn yard the bins and mangers the mows and racks
..
..
:
-
Manufactures engineering building cities and every trade

of
the
of
..
commerce
,,
.
.
on
and the implements every trade

of
carried there
..
The anvil and tongs and hammer the axe and wedge the square and mitre and
..
..
jointer and smoothingplane

;
1
The plumbob and trowel and level .. the wall -scaffold , and the work of walls and
ceilings .. or any mason -work :
The ship's compass .. the sailor's tarpaulin .. the stays and lanyards , and the ground
tackle for anchoring or mooring ,
The sloop's tiller .. the pilot's wheel and bell .. the yacht or fish - smack . , the great
gay -pennanted three - hundred - foot steamboat under full headway , with her proud
fat breasts and her delicate swift - flashing paddles ;
The trail and line and hooks and sinkers .. the seine , and hauling the seine ;
Smallarms and rifles the powder and shot and caps and wadding the ...
....
ordnance for war the carriages :
Everyday objects ....
the housechairs , the carpet, the bed and the counterpane of
the bed , and him or her sleeping at night, and the wind blowing , and the indefi
nite noises :
The snowstorm or rainstorm .... the tow - trowsers .... the lodge -hut in the woods ,,
and the still -hunt :
City and country .. fireplace and candle .. gaslight and heater and aqueduct ;
The message of the governor , mayor , or chief of police ..
the dishes of breakfast
or dinner or supper ;
The bunkroom , the fire - engine , the string -team , and the car or truck behind ;
The paper I write on or you write on .. and every word we write .. and every
cross and twirl of the pen .. and the curious way we write what we think ....
yet very faintly ;
The directory, the detector , the ledger ....

the books in ranks or the bookshelves
....the clock attached to the wall ,
The ring on your finger the lady's wristlet . . the hammers of stonebreakers or
coppersmiths .. the druggist's vials and jars ;
The etui of surgical instruments , and the etui of oculist's or aurist's instruments , or
dentist's instruments ;
Glassblowing , grinding of wheat and corn .. casting , and what is cast .. tinroofing ,
shingledressing,
Shipcarpentering , flagging of sidewalks by flaggers dockbuilding , fishcuring , ferry
ing ;
The pump , the piledriver , the great derrick .. the coalkiln and brickkiln ,
Ironworks or whiteleadworks .. the sugarhouse steam - saws , and the great mills
and factories ;
The cottonbale .. the stevedore's hook .. the saw and buck of the sawyer .. the
screen of the coalscreener .. the mould of the moulder .. the workingknife of
the butcher ;
The cylinder press .. the handpress .. the frisket and tympan .. the compositor's
stick and rule ,
The implements for daguerreotyping .... the tools of the rigger or grappler or sail
maker or blockmaker ,
Goods of guttapercha or papiermache colors and brushes . glaziers ' im
plements ,
1
The veneer and gluepot .. the confectioner's ornaments .. the decanter and glasses
the shears and flatiron ;
The awl and kneestrap .. the pint measure and quart measure .. the counter and
stool ..
the writingpen of quill or metal ;
Billiards and tenpins ....
the ladders and hanging ropes of the gymnasium , and the
manly exercises ;
The designs for wallpapers or oilcloths or carpets .... the fancies for goods for
women ....
the bookbinder's stamps ;
Leatherdressing , coachmaking , boilermaking , ropetwisting , distilling , signpainting ,
limeburning , coopering , cottonpicking ,
The walkingbeam of the steam -engine .. the throttle and governors , and the up and
down rods ,
Stavemachines and plainingmachines the cart of the carman ....
the omnibus ..
the ponderous dray ;
The snowplough and two engines pushing it the ride in the express train of ....
only one car .. the swift go through a howling storm :
....
lot
The bearhunt or coonhunt the bonfire of shavings in the open the city
in
the crowd children watching
of
The blows fighting the upper cut and one two three
of
the man
....
;
-
-
The shopwindows the coffins the sexton's wareroom ... the fruit on the
in
....
on
fruitstand the beef the butcher's stall

,
The bread and cakes bakery the white and red pork the pork store
in
the
in
;
-
The milliner's ribbons the dressmaker's patterns the tea table the home ...
..
..
-
made sweetmeats
:
The column wants paper by telegraph the

in
the one cent

of
the news
..
-
amusements and operas

and shows
:
The cotton and woolen and linen you wear the money you make and spend ...
;
Your room and bedroom your piano forte the stove and cookpans ....
,
-
you ....
the other tenants ....
the deposite ....
in
The house live the rent the
in
savings bank ....
the grocery
at
the trade
on -
The pay Saturday night .... the going home and the purchases
;
far ,
In them .... more than you estimated and far

of
the heft the heaviest them

in
less also
,
....
In
all
them not yourself you and your soul enclose things regardless estima
of
,
,
tion
,
no
In
them your themes and hints and provokers not the whole earth has
if
provokers and never had

or
or
themes hints
,
....
do
not affirm what you see beyond not advise you stop
do do
to
futile
is
I I
not say leadings you thought great are not great

,
But greater happier than those lead

or
or
to
to
say that none lead sadder

I
.
off
Will you You surely come back

as at
seek afar last

,
?
things best known you finding the best

In
or
as
to
good the best

,
In folksnearest to you finding also the sweetest and strongest and lovingest ,
Happiness not in another place , but this place . . not for another hour , but this hour,
Man in the first you see or touch ....
always in your friend or brother or nighest
neighbor ...
Woman in your mother or lover or wife ,
.
And all else thus far known giving place
to
men and women
.
When the psalm sings instead the singer
of
,
When the script preaches instead the preacher
of
,
When the pulpit descends and goes instead the carver that carved the supporting
of
desk
,
the lath and plast procreate
or
or
When the sacred vessels the bits the eucharist
of
,
effectually young
or
or
in
as
as
the silversmiths bakers the masons their
,
overalls
,
When university course convinces like slumbering woman and child convince
aa
a
,
When the minted gold the vault smiles like the nightwatchman's daughter
in
,
When warrantee deeds loafe chairs opposite and are my friendly companions
in
,
my
as
as
to
of
intend reach them hand and make much them do men and
of
I
I
women
.
Leaves of Grass .
think of time .... to think through the retrospection ,

To To think of today and the ages continued henceforward .
Have you guessed you yourself would not continue ? Have you dreaded those
earth - beetles ?
Have you feared the future would be nothing to you ?
Is today nothing ? Is the beginningless past nothing ?

If the future is nothing they are just as surely nothing .
To think that the sun rose in the east ....

that men and women were flexible and
real and alive ....
that every thing was real and alive ;
To think that you and I did not see feel think nor bear our part ,
To think that we are now here and bear our part .
Not a day passes .. not a minute or second without an accouchement ;
Not a day passes .

not a minute or second without a corpse .
When the dull nights are over ,> and the dull days also ,
When the soreness of lying so much in bed is over ,
When the physician , after long putting off, gives the silent and terrible look for an
answer ,
When the children come hurried and weeping , and the brothers and sisters have
been sent for ,
When medicines stand unused on the shelf , and the camphor -smell has pervaded the
rooms ,
When the faithful hand of the living does not desert the hand of the dying ,
When the twitching lips press lightly on the forehead of the dying ,
When the breath ceases and the pulse of the heart ceases ,
Then the corpse - limbs stretch on the bed , and the living look upon them ,
They are palpable as the living are palpable .
The living look upon the corpse with their eyesight,

But without eyesight lingers a different living and looks curiously on the corpse .
come to flow , and the snow fall , and fruits ripen .. and
To think that the rivers will
act upon others as upon us now . yet not
act upon us ;
city
all
To think of country and others taking great interest
of
these wonders and
..
them and we taking small interest them
..
in
in
.
To think how eager we building our houses
in
are
,
just and we quite indifferent
be
To think others shall
as
eager
..
.
building the house that serves him few years .... seventy eighty
or
see one
or
I
a
years
at
most
;
see one building the house that serves him longer than that
I
.
Slowmoving and black lines creep over the whole earth .... they never cease ....
they are the burial lines
,
be
shall surely
he
He that was President was buried and that now President
is
,
buried
.
the ferrywharf
1
at
of
Cold dash waves

,
Posh and ice the river half frozen mud .... the streets
in
in
,
.
gray discouraged sky overhead the short last daylight ....
of
December
A A
,
hearse and stages ....
other vehicles give place
,
... the cortege mostly drivers

an
The funeral old stagedriver

of
Rapid the trot .

to
the cemetery
,
Duly rattles the deathbell .... .... the grave
at
the gate passed halted
is
is
the living alight ....

the hearse uncloses
,
The coffin ....

on
lowered and settled the whip

is is
laid the coffin

is
....
no
swiftly shovelled speaks

in
minute
..
or
The earth one moves
it
is
a
.
.
done
,
He decently put away there anything more

is
is
He was goodfellow
a
his
quicktempered not badlooking able own part

to
Freemouthed take
,
or ,
Witty sensitive slight ready with life

to
death for friend

a
a
,
,
,
Fond eat hearty and drank hearty

of
played some
..
women
,
,
Had known what

to
was be flush grew lowspirited toward the last

it
sickened
.
.
by
was helped contribution

..
Died aged forty one years and that was his funeral
.
-
finger uplifted
or
Thumb extended
,
Apron cape gloves strap .... wetweather clothes whip carefully

..
chosen
,
,
,
boss spotter starter and hostler

,
,
,
,
Somebody loafing on you , or you loafing on somebody headway man .... ....
before and man behind ,
Good day's work or bad day's work pet stock or mean stock ....first out or ....
last out ....
turning in at night ,
To think that these are so much and so nigh to other drivers . . and he there takes
no interest in them .
The markets , the government , the workingman's wages to think what account ....
they are through our nights and days ;
To think that other workingmen will make just as great account of them .. yet we
make little or no account .
you
....
sin
The vulgar and the refined and what you call goodness
to
what call
..
think how wide difference
a
lie
To think the difference will still continue yet we beyond the difference
to
others
.
To think how much pleasure there
is
!
Have you pleasure from looking the sky Have you pleasure from poems
at
?
Do you enjoy yourself city planning nomina
or
or
in
the engaged business in
a
?
?
with your wife and family
or
tion and election

?
Or with your mother and sisters womanly housework ? ma

or
or
in
the beautiful
?
?
ternal cares
?
to
These also flow onward others you and flow onward

.
;
I
But due time you and shall take less interest

in
in
them
I
Your farm and profits and crops .... think how engrossed you are
to
;
To think there will still
be
farms and profits and crops yet for you what avail
of
..
?
— for what
be
What will be will well well

is
is
To take interest well and not

to
take interest shall be well

is
....
bə
The sky continues beautiful the pleasure

of
men with women shall never

sated nor the pleasure women with men nor the pleasure from poems
..
of
;
.
.
The domestic joys the daily housework the building they

or
of
business houses
,
are not phantasms they have weight and form and location
..
The farms and profits and crops the markets and wages and government they
..
..
also are not phantasms

;
no
The difference between sin and goodness apparition

is
The earth . man and his life and

all
not an echo the things his life are well

is
of
.
.
considered
.
You
to
are not thrown the winds you gather certainly and safely around yourself
,
Yourself Yourself Yourself forever and ever

!
!
It is not to diffuse you that you mother and fatherwere born of your - it is to
—
identify you ,
It is not that you should be undecided , but that you should be decided ;
Something long preparing and formless is arrived and formed in you ,
You are thenceforth secure , whatever comes or goes .
The threads that were spun are gathered the weft crosses the warp ....
the pattern is systematic .
The preparations have every one been justified ;

The orchestra have tuned their instruments sufficiently ... the baton has given the
signal.
.... ....
for
The guest that was coming he waited long
he
reasons now housed
is
,
those who are beautiful and happy ....
he
He look
to
of
those that
of
one one
is
is
.
upon and
be
with enough
is
the past cannot

be
The
of of of of of of
law eluded
,
The law the present and future cannot be eluded
,
be
The law the living cannot eluded it eternal

is
,
.
promotion and transformation

be
The law cannot eluded
,
be
The law heroes and good doers cannot eluded

,
-
be
The law drunkards and informers and mean persons cannot eluded
.
go
Slowmoving and black lines ceaselessly over the earth

,
....
on
Northerner goes carried and southerner goes carried and they the Atlantic
on
all
side and they the Pacific and they between and through the Mississippi
,
country and all over the earth

.
.
.
.
.
....
the
are
go
The great masters and kosmos they

as
well heroes and good doers
-
are well
,
The known leaders and inventors and the rich owners and pious and distinguished
is be
may well
,
But there .... all

of
more account than that there strict account

is
the ignorant and wicked are not nothing

of
The interminable hordes

,
Africa and Asia are not nothing

of
The barbarians
,
The common people Europe are not nothing the American .... aborigines are
of
not nothing
,
not nothing
or
zambo foreheadless Crowfoot Camanche

or
A
is
a
,
a
The infected the immigrant hospital are not nothing ....

or
in
the murderer mean

person not nothing
is
,go
The perpetual succession shallow people are not nothing they

is as
of
The prostitute not nothing religion .... not nothing

he
the mocker
of
as
goes
is
....
go
shall with the rest we have satisfaction

I
:
I have dreamed that we are not to be changed so much nor the law of us
changed ;
I have dreamed that heroes and good -doers shall be under the present and past law ,
And that murderers and drunkards and liars shall be under the present and past law ;
For I have dreamed that the law they are under now is enough .
And I have dreamed that the satisfaction is not so much changed .... and that there
is no life without satisfaction ;
What is the earth ? what are body and soul without satisfaction ?
I shall go with the rest,

We cannot be stopped at a given point that is no satisfaction ; ...
To show us a good thing or a few good things for a space of time — that is no satis
faction ;
We must have the indestructible breed of the best , regardless of time .
If
all
otherwise , these things came but dung

to
of
ashes
;
then suspicion and treachery and death
us
maggots and rats ended

If
.
Do you suspect death
to
suspect death should die now

If
were
I
,
I
?
Do you think could walk pleasantly and well suited toward annihilation
I
?
-
Pleasantly and well suited walk

,
I
-
Whither walk cannot define but know good

is
it
,
I
I
I
The whole universe indicates that good

it
is
The past and the present indicate that good

is
it
How beautiful and perfect are the animals How perfect my soul
is
!
How perfect the earth and the minutest thing upon

it
,
What perfect and what just perfect

as
called good called sin

is
is
is
is
,
;
all
The vegetables and minerals are perfect and the imponderable fluids are
perfect
;
on
Slowly and surely they have passed and slowly and surely they will yet
to
this
,
pass on
.
my soul realize you have satisfaction

O
if
,
I I
I
!
Animals and vegetables realize you have satisfaction

if
,
I
!
you
of
Laws the earth and air realize have satisfaction

if
I
I
!
cannot define my satisfaction yet

so
..
it
is
I I
cannot define my life yet

so
it
is
.
an
swear see now that every thing has eternal soul

I
I
The trees the ground .... ....

of
have rooted the weeds the sea have the

in
,
animals
.
I swear I
think there is nothing but immortality !
That the exquisite scheme is for it , and the nebulous float is for it , and the cohering
is for it ,
for
for
for
all
And preparation and identity and life and death are
..
..
it
it
it
is
is
1
Leaves of Grass
1
.
1
all
WANDER night
my vision
in
....
I
Stepping with light feet swiftly and noiselessly stepping and stopping
,
Bending with open eyes over the shut eyes sleepers
of
....
;
....
ill
Wandering and confused myself assorted contradictory

to
lost
-
,
Pausing and gazing and bending and stopping
.
How solemn they look there stretched and still

,
How quiet they breathe the little children their

in
cradles
.
,
The wretched features ennuyees corpses the livid faces

of
of
of
the white features
,
ray faces
of
drunkards the sick onanists

,
,
-g
on
The strong doored

in
gashed bodies battlefields the insane their rooms the

,
,
-
sacred idiots
,
The newborn emerging from gates and the dying emerging from gates
,
The night pervades them and enfolds them

.
on
The married couple sleep calmly with his palm the hip
he
on in
of
their bed the

,
wife and she with her palm the hip the husband
of
,
,
by
The sisters sleep lovingly side their bed

in
side
,
by
The men sleep lovingly theirs

in
side side
,
And the mother sleeps with her little child carefully wrapped
.
The blind sleep

and the deaf and dumb sleep
,
The prisoner sleeps well the prison the runaway son sleeps ....
in
,
Leaves of Grass 71
The murderer that is to be hung next day .... how does he sleep ?
And the murdered person .... how does he sleep ?
The female that loves unrequited sleeps ,

And the male that loves unrequited sleeps ;
all
The head of the moneymaker that plotted day sleeps
,
And the enraged and treacherous dispositions sleep
.
stand with drooping eyes by the worstsuffering and restless
I I
,
pass my hands soothingly few inches from them
to
and fro
;
The restless sink their beds they fitfully sleep ....
in
.
The earth recedes from me into the night
,
saw that was beautiful ....
it
and that what not the earth beautiful
is
see
is
I
.
....
go
to
from bedside bedside sleep close with the other sleepers each
,
I
I
in
turn
;
all
my dream
in
of
dream the dreams the other dreamers

I
,
And become the other dreamers
I
....
up
Play whirling me fast

fit
am dance there the

is
a
I
.
am the everlaughing .... new moon and twilight
it
is
I I
see the hiding ... nimble ghosts whichever way

of
douceurs see look
I
I
,
Cache and cache again deep the ground and sea and where neither ground
or
in
is
it
,
sea
.
their jobs those journeymen divine

they
do
do
Well
,
,
Only from me can they hide nothing and would not they could
if
reckon am their boss and they make me pet besides

a
I
And surround me and lead me and run ahead when walk

,
I
,
And lift their cunning covers and signify me with stretched arms and resume the
,
way
;
gay gang blackguards with mirthshouting music and wild

of
Onward we move
a
,
flapping pennants joy

of
am the actor and the actress .... the voter the politician
..
,
I
The emigrant and the exile

in
the criminal that stood the box

..
,
he
famous after today

be
He who has been famous and who shall

,
.... the wasted

or
The stammerer the wellformed person

..
feeble person
.
am she who adorned herself and folded her hair expectantly

,
I
My truant lover has come and dark

it
is
Double yourself and receive me darkness

,
go
he
Receive me and my lover too will not let me without him

.
I roll myself upon you as upon a bed .... I resign myself to the dusk .
He whom I
call answers me and takes the place of my lover,
He rises with me silently from the bed .
Darkness you are gentler than my lover his flesh was sweaty and panting ,
I feel the hot moisture yet that he left me.
My hands forth .. I pass them in
all
are spread directions
,
up
would sound the shadowy shore which you are journeying
to
I
.
Be careful darkness . already what was touched me
it
?
,
,
thought my lover had gone else darkness and he are one ....
,
I I
hear the heart beat follow ....

fade away
..
I
-
.
hotcheeked and blushing foolish hectic
O O
O
!
!
for pity's sake .... my clothes were stolen while
no
one must see me now
I
!
,
was abed
,
Now am thrust forth where shall run

I
?
,
Pier that was dimly last night when looked from the windows
,
I
....
let
Pier out from the main me catch myself with you and stay will not chafe
,
I
you
;
to go
naked about the world

to
feel ashamed
I
And am curious know where my feet stand and what this flooding
..
is
....
or
me childhood manhood and the hunger that crosses the bridge

,
between
.
The cloth laps first sweet eating and drinking

a
Laps life welling yolks laps ear rose corn milky and just ripened
of
,
-
:
-s
The white teeth stay and the boss tooth advances darkness
in
,
And liquor spilled lips and bosoms by touching glasses and the best liquor
on
is
afterward
.
my western course
descend my sinews are flaccid ....
,
I
Perfume and youth course through me and am their wake

I
,
my face yellow and wrinkled instead the old woman's

I It
of
sit is
low strawbottom chair and carefully darn my grandson's stockings

in
a
....
on
too the sleepless widow looking out the winter midnight

I It
is
,
I
the sparkles the icy and pallid earth

on
of
see starshine
.
....
it lie
shroud am the shroud wrap body and the coffin

is in
It A
see and
—
a
I
I
dark here underground ....

pain here ....
or
not evil blank here for

is
it
is
reasons
.
It seems to me that everything in the light and air ought to be happy ;
Whoever is not in his coffin and the dark grave , let him know he has enough .
I see abeautiful gigantic swimmer swimming naked through the eddies of the sea ,
His brown hair lies close and even to his head he strikes out with courageous ....
arms he....
urges himself with his legs .
I see his white body ....

I see his undaunted eyes ;
I hate the swift -running eddies that would dash him headforemost on the rocks .
What are you doing you ruffianly red - trickled waves ?

Will you kill the courageous giant ? Will you kill him in the prime of his middle age ?
Steady and long he struggles ;
....
his
He is baffled and banged and bruised he holds out while strength holds out
,
The slapping eddies are spotted with his blood they bear him away they ....
roll him and swing him and turn him
:
....
on
His beautiful body borne the circling eddies continually bruised
in
it
is
is
rocks
,
Swiftly and out sight borne the brave corpse

of
is
.
do
turn but not extricate myself

I
Confused .... pastreading another but with darkness yet

..
.
a
....
by
The beach cut the razory ice wind the wreck uns sounds
is
,
-g
The tempest lulls and the moon comes floundering through the drifts
.
look where the ship helplessly heads end ....
on
as
hear the burst she strikes
..
I
hear the howls dismay ...

they grow fainter and fainter
of
I
cannot aid with my wringing fingers

I I
drench me and freeze upon me

to
can but rush the surf and let

it
.... the company

us
a to
with the crowd not one washed alive

of
search
in is
;
I
up
In
morning help pick the dead and lay them

in
the rows barn

I
Now Brooklyn
at
the old war ays the defeat

..
of
;
-d
Washington stands inside the lines

he
on
stands the entrenched hills amid crowd

a
.
.
of
officers
,
cold and damp ....

cannot repress the weeping drops ....
he
,, he
His face lifts

is
....
his
his
the glass perpetually

to
eyes the color blanched from cheeks

is
by
He sees the slaughter parents

to
of
the southern braves confided him their

.
The same
at
at
last and last when peace declared

is
He stands
of
the room the old tavern

all
in
..
the wellbeloved soldiers pass

through
.
The officers speechless and slow draw near in their turns,

The chief encircles their necks with his arm and kisses them on the cheek ,
He kisses lightly the wet cheeks one after another he shakes hands and bids ....
goodbye to the army .
Now I tell what my mother told me today as we sat at dinner together ,

Of when she was a nearly grown girl living home with her parents on the old home
stead .
A red squaw came one breakfastime to the old homestead ,
On her back she carried a bundle of rushes for rushbottoming chairs ;

Her hair straight shiny coarse black and profuse halfenveloped her face ,
Her step was free and elastic ....
her voice sounded exquisitely as she spoke.
My mother looked in delight and amazement at the stranger ,

She looked at the beauty of her tallborne face and full and pliant limbs ,
The more she looked upon her she loved her ,
Never before had she seen such wonderful beauty and purity ;
....
by
on
sit
She made her bench the jamb the fireplace of she cooked food for
a
her
,
give her but she gave her remembrance and fondness

to
She had no work
.
all
The red squaw staid the afternoon she
of
the forenoon and toward the middle
,
went away
;
go
my mother was loth away

to
have her
O
All theweek she thought she watched for her many ....
of
her month
a
,
She remembered her many winter and many summer
a
of a
But the red squaw never came nor was heard there again
.
....
he
Now Lucifer was not dead

or
was am his sorrowful terrible heir

if
;
I
.... ....
him
have been wronged

he am
oppressed hate that oppresses me

,
I I
will either destroy him

or
shall release me
,
.
he
Damn him how does defile me

,
!
informs against my brother and sister and takes pay for their blood
he he
How
,
How laughs when look down the bend after the steamboat that carries away my
I
woman
.
Now the vast dusk bulk that the whale's bulk seems mine
lie is
it
Warily sportsman though sleepy and sluggish my tap

so
death
is
,
.
!
the summer softness an amour

of
A
show something unseen

of
contact
.
a
the light and air

of
am jealous and overwhelmed with friendliness

,
I
go
And will gallivant with the light and the air myself
,
be
unseen something
an
to
And have contact with them also

in
.
O love and summer ! you are in the dreams and in me ,

Autumn and winter are in the dreams ....
the farmer goes with his thrift ,
The droves and crops increase ....
the barns are wellfilled ..
Elements merge in the night ....

ships make tacks in the dreams the sailor ....
sails ...
the exile returns home ,
The fugitive returns unharmed ....
the immigrant is back beyond months and years ;
The poor Irishman lives in the simple house of his childhood , with the wellknown
neighbors and faces ,
They warmly welcome him .... he is barefoot again
he forgets he is welloff ; ....
The Dutchman voyages home and the Scotchman and Welchman voyage home . .
,
and the native of the Mediterranean voyages home ;

To every port of England and France and Spain enter wellfilled ships ;
The Swiss foots it toward his hills ....
the Prussian goes his way , and the
Hungarian
his way , and the Pole goes his way ,
The Swede returns , and the Dane and Norwegian return .
The homeward bound and the outward bound ,

The beautiful lost swimmer , the ennuyee , the onanist , the female that loves unre
quited , the moneymaker ,
The actor and actress .. those through with their parts and those waiting to
commence ,
The affectionate boy , the husband and wife , the voter , the nominee that is chosen
and the nominee that has failed ,
The great already known , and the great anytime after to day ,
The stammerer , the sick , the perfectformed , the homely ,
The criminal that stood in the box , the judge that sat and sentenced him , the fluent
lawyers , the jury , the audience ,
The laugher and weeper , the dancer , the midnight widow , the red squaw ,
The consumptive , the erysipalite , the idiot, he that is wronged ,
The antipodes , and every one between this and them in the dark ,
I swear they are averaged now .. one is no better than the other ,
The night and sleep have likened them and restored them .
I
all
swear they are beautiful

,
Every one that sleeps beautiful every thing .... the night beautiful
in
is
dim
is
The wildest and bloodiest over and all peace

is
is
Peace always beautiful

is
The myth heaven indicates peace and night

of
The myth indicates the soul

of
heaven
;
The soul always beautiful .... appears more appears less ....
or
or
comes
is
it
it
it
lags behind
,
on
It
its
comes from embowered garden and looks pleasantly itself and encloses the
world
;
Perfect and clean the genitals previously jetting and perfect and clean the womb
,
cohering
,
The head wellgrown and proportioned and plumb and the bowels and joints
,
proportioned and plumb
.
The soul always beautiful
is
,
....
its its
The universe duly order every thing place
in
in in
is
is is
,
its
What arrived place and what waits
in place
is
is
;
,
The twisted skull waits the watery
or
rotten blood waits
,
The child the glutton venerealee waits long and the child
or
of
drunkard
of
the
,
waits long and the drunkard himself waits long
,
,
....
go
on
The
in
to
sleepers that lived and died wait the far advanced are their
go
on
turns and the far behind
to
their turns
in
are
,
,
no
they they unite

be
The diverse shall less diverse but shall flow and unite
,
.
.
.
.
now
.
lie
The sleepers are very beautiful they

as
unclothed
,
They flow hand
lie
they
in
hand over the whole earth from
to
as
un
east west
clothed
;
The Asiatic and African are hand hand ... the European
in
and American are

hand
in
hand
,
in
in
Learned and unlearned are hand hand and male and female are hand hand
..
;
the girl crosses the bare breast her lover they press close
of
of
The bare arm
..
without lust ....
his lips press her neck
in ,
The father holds his grown ungrown son ....

or
his arms with measureless love

and the son holds the father his arms with measureless love
in
,
on
The white hair the daughter

of
of
the mother shines the white wrist

,
The breath boy goes inarmed by

of
of
the with the breath the man friend

is
.
friend
,
The scholar kisses the teacher and the teacher kisses the scholar .... the wronged
made right
is
The call the slave one with the master's call and the master salutes the slave
..
of
is
The felon steps forth from the prison the insane becomes sane the suffer ....
ing sick persons
relieved
of
is
The sweatings and fevers stop the throat that was unsound sound the lungs
..
..
is
the consumptive are resumed the poor distressed head

of
..
free
is
joints smoothly
as
as
of
The the rheumatic move ever and smoother than ever

,
Stiflings and passages open ....

...
the paralysed become supple
,
The swelled and convulsed and congested awake

in
to
themselves condition
,
They pass the invigoration the night and the chemistry the night and awake
of
of
too pass from the night

I I
stay awhile away night you again and love you

to
but return
O
;
,
Why should I be afraid to trust myself to you ?

I am not afraid ....
I have been well brought forward by you ;
I love the rich running day, but I do not desert her in whom I lay so long :
I know not how I came of you , and I know not where I go with you .... but I
know I came well and shall go well .
I will stop only a time with the night .... and rise betimes .
Iwill duly pass the day O my mother and duly return to you ;
Not you will yield forth the dawn again more surely than you will yield forth me
again ,
its
Not the womb yields the babe in time more surely than yielded from
be
shall
I
you my time
in
Leaves of Grass
.
THHEThey men and women engirth me and engirth
of
bodies them
,
I
,
go
let
will not them till with them and respond

to
me offl nor them
I
and love them

.
Was dreamed whether those who corrupted their own live bodies could conceal
it
themselves
?
And whether those who defiled the living they who defiled
as
as
were bad the

dead
?
The expression the body

or
of
of
man woman balks account

,
The male perfect and that perfect

of
the female
is
is
his
The expression wellmade man appears not only

of
in
face
a
....
,
his limbs and joints also curiously joints

It It
his hips and wrists

in in
of
the
in
is is
is
it
his walk carriage

..
of
of
of
the his neck the flex his waist and knees

..
dress does not hide him

,
The strong sweet supple quality he has strikes through the cotton and flannel ;
To see him pass conveys as much as the best poem perhaps more ,
You linger to see his back and the back of his neck and shoulderside .
The sprawl and fulness of babes .... the bosoms and heads of women .. the
folds of their dress .... their style as we pass in the street .... the contour of
their shape downwards ;
The swimmer naked in the swimmingbath .. seen as he swims through the salt
transparent greenshine, or lies on his back and rolls silently with the heave of
the water ;
Framers bare - armed framing a house .. hoisting the beams in their places . . or
using the mallet and mortising -chisel,
The bending forward and backward of rowers in rowboats .... the horseman in his
saddle ;
all
Girls and mothers and housekeepers in their exquisite offices
,
The group
at
laborers noontime with their open dinnerkettles and their

of
seated
,
wives waiting
,
The female soothing ....

the farmer's daughter the garden cowyard
or
in
child
a
,
The woodman rapidly swinging his axe the woods the young fellow hoeing ....
his in
.... guiding through

six
corn the sleighdriver horses the crowd
,
The wrestle wrestlers two apprentice boys quite grown lusty goodnatured
of
..
.
,
-
,
lot
on
at
nativeborn out the vacant sundown after work

,
,
The coats vests and caps thrown down
of
love and resistance
..
the embrace
,
The upperhold and underhold
—
the hair rumpled over and blinding the eyes
;
-
The march the play

in
firemen their own costumes the masculine muscle

of
of
through cleansetting trowsers and waistbands

,
The slow return from the fire ...

the pause when the bell strikes suddenly again
on
the listening the alert

,
The natural perfect and varied attitudes .... the bent head the curved neck the
,
,
counting
....
:
myself and pass freely

at
Suchlike love loosen and am the mother's

I
breast with the little child

,
And swim with the swimmer and wrestle with wrestlers and march
in
line with the

,
firemen and pause and listen and count

,
....
of
knew man he was common farmer he was the father five sons
a
I
a
in
of
and
..
and them were the fathers them were the fathers

in
of
sons sons
.
This man was wonderful vigor and calmness and beauty person
of
of
The shape his manners the pale yellow

of
of
his head the richness and breadth

,
,
his
his
hair and beard the immeasurable meaning black eyes

of
of
and white
,
....
go
and visit him

to
to
These used see He was wise also

,
I
He was six feet tall was over eighty years old ....
he
his sons were massive

clean bearded tanfaced and handsome
,
They and his daughters loved ... ...
all
him
.
who saw him loved him they did not
...
by
allowance
love him they loved him with personal love
;
He drank water only .... the blood showed like scarlet through the clear brown
of
skin his face
;
... ...
he
He was frequent gunner and fisher sailed his boat himself he had fine
a
a
....
by
shipjoiner had fowling
he
to
to
one presented him ieces presented
,
-p
him by men that loved him
;
went with his five sons and many grandsons fish you would pick
he
to
When hunt
or
the most beautiful and vigorous
as
him out the gang
of
by
sit
You would wish long and long
be
you would wish
in
to
to
with him him
you might
he
the boat that and touch each other
.
have perceived that
be
to
with those like enough
is is
I
,
To stop company with the rest evening enough
at
in
,
by
To
breathing ląughing flesh

be
surrounded beautiful curious enough
is
,
To pass among them touch any one rest my arm ever lightly round ....
so
to
to
..
....
or
his her neck for moment what this then

is
a
?
not ask any more delight ....
do
as
swim in
in
sea
it
a
I
on
something staying close men and women and looking
in
to
There them and

in
is
the contact and odor them that pleases the soul well
of
,
All things please the soul but these please the soul well
,
This the female

is
form
,
to
divine nimbus exhales from from head foot

A
it
attracts with fierce undeniable attraction

I It
,
by
no
its
vapor all falls

as
am drawn breath were more than helpless

if
a
I
aside but myself and

.. it,
Books art religion time the visible and solid earth the atmosphere and the
..
,
,
,
fringed clouds
or
expected
of
of
what was heaven feared hell are now

consumed
,
Mad filaments ungovernable shoots play out the response likewise ungovern
of
..
it
,
able
,
....
all
Hair bosom hips bend legs negligent falling hands diffused mine too
of
- —
,
,
,
diffused
,
Ebb stung by the flow and flow stung by the ebb loveflesh swelling and ...
,
deliciously aching
of ,
Limitless limpid jets quivering jelly white .... ...

of
love hot and enormous love

blow and delirious juice
,
Bridegroom love working surely and softly into the prostrate dawn
night
of
,
-
Undulating into the willing and yielding day

,
Lost the clasping and sweetfleshed day

in
of
the cleave
.
This the nucleus ...

of of
after the child born

of
woman the man

is is
born
is
is
woman
,
This birth ... the merge small and large and the outlet again
of
the bath this

is
.
Be not ashamed women your privilege encloses the rest .. it is the exit of the rest ,
0
You are the gates of the body and you are the gates of the soul .
....
all
The female contains qualities and tempers them her place
in
she
is
she moves with perfect balance
,
....
all
She things duly veiled con
to
both passive and active
is
she
..
is
she
is
.
daughters daughters
as
as
as
as
ceive well sons and sons well
.
....
As
my soul reflected see through
as
mist one with inexpress
in
see nature
I
a
I
ible completeness and beauty see the bent head and ....
arms folded over the
breast the female see
I
,
great fruit which immortality the good thereof
of
see the bearer the
is
is
I
by
be
not tasted roues and never can
,
.
The male ....
he
not less the soul nor more his place
in
..
is
too
is
,
,
he
He too all qualities power the flush the known
of
action and is
is
.
.
in
universe
is
him
,
Scorn becomes him well and appetite and defiance become him well
,
The fiercest largest passions bliss that utmost and sorrow that utmost be
..
is
is
come him well pride ....
for him
,
is
The fullspread pride calming and excellent
to
of
man the soul

is
;
Knowledge .... always ...
he
brings everything
he
to
becomes him likes the
it
of
test himself
,
he
Whatever the survey whatever the sea and the sail strikes soundings
at
last
,
only here
,
he
Where else does strike soundings except here

?
The man's body sacred and the woman's body no matter who
it
sacred on is
Is is
is
,
the dullfaced immigrants just landed the wharf
Is
of
slave one
it
it
a
?
anywhere just just
as
as
or
as
as
Each belongs here much the welloff much

.
you
,
her place the procession

or
Each has his

in
All procession
is
a
The universe procession with measured amd beautiful motion

is
a
Do you know much that you call the slave the dullfaced ignorant
or
so
...
?
no
Do you suppose you have right sight

he
or
to
good and she has

a
right sight
to
a
its
Do you think matter has cohered together from diffused float and the soil
is
,
vegetation sprouts for you

on
the surface and water runs and and not for

..
him and her

?
slave at auction
I A
help the auctioneer ...

.... the sloven does not half know his business
.
Gentlemen look on this curious creature ,

Whatever the bids of the bidders they cannot be high enough for him ,
For him the globe lay preparing quintillions of years without one animal or plant ,
For him the revolving cycles truly and steadily rolled .
In that head the allbaffling brain ,

In it and below it the making of the attributes of heroes .
Examine these limbs , red black or white .... they are very cunning in tendon and
nerve ;
They shall be stript that you may see them .
Exquisite senses , lifelit eyes , pluck , volition ,

Flakes of breastmuscle , pliant backbone and neck , flesh not flabby , goodsized arms
and legs ,
And wonders within there yet .
Within there runs his blood .... the same old blood . . the same red running blood ;
heart .... There

his
all
all
There swells and jets passions and desires reachings
..
and aspirations
:
Do you think they are not there because they are not expressed parlors and
in
lecture rooms
?
-
not only one man ....

he
be
This
in
of
the father those who shall fathers their

is
is
turns
,
Of In
populous states and rich republics

of
him the start

,
him countless immortal lives with countless embodiments and enjoyments
you know who shall come from the offspring his offspring through.
do
How
of
the
centuries
?
Who might you find you have come from yourself you could trace back through
if
the centuries
?
at
woman auction
A
not only herself ....

the teeming mother
of
She too she mothers

is
is
grow
be
to
of
She the bearer them that shall and mates the mothers
is
Her daughters their daughters daughters

or
who knows who shall mate with

..
'
them
?
Who knows through the centuries what heroes may come from them
?
In them natal love .... the divine mystery ....

of
and
in
them them the same old

..
beautiful mystery
.
Have you ever loved woman

a
?
Your mother .... is she living ? .... Have you been much with her ? and has she
been much with you ? .
all
all
all
Do you not that these are exactly the same to nations and times
in
see
over the earth
?
life and the soul are sacred the human body
If
sacred
is
;
And the glory and sweet man the token manhood untainted
of
of
is
a
,
And clean strong firmfibred body
or
as
man woman beautiful the most
in
is
a
beautiful face
.
Have you seen the fool that corrupted his own live body the fool that corrupted
or
?
her own live body ?
do
For they not conceal themselves and cannot conceal themselves
.
Who degrades defiles the living human body
or or
cursed
is
,
Who degrades the body
of
defiles the dead not more cursed
is
.
of
Leaves Grass
.
the
the
AUNTERING pavement riding country byroads

or
here then are

SAYfaces
,
Faces friendship precision caution suavity ideality

of
,
,
The spiritual prescient face the always welcome common benevolent face
,
,
the singing music the grand faces natural lawyers and judges
of
of
The face
at of
broad the backtop

,
hunters and fishers bulged ....

at
The faces the brows the shaved blanched

of of
faces orthodox citizens

,
The pure extravagant yearning questioning artist's face

,
The welcome ugly face ....

or
of
some beautiful soul the handsome detested

despised face
,
.... many children

of
The sacred faces infants the illuminated face the mother

of
of
,
The face of an amour .... the face of veneration ,
The face as of a dream .... the face of an immobile rock ,
its
The face withdrawn of good and bad castrated face
..
a
,
wings clipped by clipper
..
wild hawk his
A A
the
,
stallion that yielded the thongs and knife
at
to
last the gelder
of
.
Sauntering the pavement crossing the ceaseless ferry here then are faces
or
;
all
see them and complain not and am content with
I
.
all
Do you suppose thought them their own finale
be
could content with
if
I
I
?
This now too lamentable face for man
is
;
abject asking cringing for
be
Some louse leave
to
it
,
.
.
its
Some milknosed maggot blessing what lets wrig
to
hole
it
.
This face dog's snout sniffing for garbage
is
in a
;
Snakes nest that mouth hear the sibilant threat
..
I
.
This face haze more chill than the arctic sea
is
a
,
Its and wobbling icebergs crunch they .go
as
sleepy
.... ....
no
they need
an
This
of
face bitter herbs this emetic label

is
a
,
And more drugshelf hog's lard
or
of
the laudanum caoutchouc

,
.
an
This face epilepsy advertising and doing business its wordless tongue
is
..
.
gives out the unearthly cry

,
....
till
its
Its veins down the neck distend eyes roll they show nothing but their
whites
,
Its teeth grit the palms the hands are cut by the turned
of
nails
..
in
,
-
The man falls struggling and foaming the ground while

he
to
speculates well
.
by
This face bittenvermin and worms

is is
And this some murderer's knife with halfpulled scabbard

a
This face owes

to
the sexton his dismalest fee

,
An unceasing deathbell tolls there

.
Those are really men .... the the great round globe
of
bosses and tufts

!
my equals you trick me with your

of
Features would creased and cadaverous

,
march
?
Well then you cannot trick me

.
see your rounded never erased flow

,
I I
your haggard and mean disguises

of
see neath the rims

.
Splay and twist as you like ....

poke with the tangling fores of fishes or rats ,
You'll be unmuzzled you certainly will .
I and slobbering idiot they had at the asylum ,

saw the face of the most smeared
And I knew for my consolation what they knew not ;
I knew of the agents that emptied and broke my brother ,
The same wait to clear the rubbish from the fallen tenement ;
And I shall look again in a score or two of ages ,
And I shall meet the real landlord perfect and unharmed , every inch as good as
myself .
The Lord advances and yet advances :

Always the shadow in front ...
always the reached hand bringing up the laggards .
Out of this face emerge banners and horses .... 0 superb ! .... I see what is
coming ,
I seethe high pioneercaps .. . . I see the staves of runners clearing the way ,
I hear victorious drums .
This face is a lifeboat ;

This is the face commanding and bearded ....
it asks no odds of the rest ;
This face is flavored fruit ready for eating ;
is the programme of all

This face of a healthy honest boy good
.
These faces bear testimony slumbering awake
or
They show their descent from the Master himself

.
.... all
or
Off the word have spoken except not one red white black are deific
,
,
I
In each house the ovum comes forth after thousand years

is
it
.
do
Spots not disturb me

at
the windows
or
cracks
to,
Tall and sufficient stand behind and make signs me

;
read the promise and patiently wait

.
I
This fullgrown lily's face

is
a
the limber hip'd man near the garden pickets

to
She speaks
,
-
....
me limber ip'd man and give me
to
Come here she blushingly cries Come nigh

,
-h
your finger and thumb

,
my side till high can upon you

as
as
at
Stand lean
I
I
me with albescent honey ....

to
Fill bend down me

,
my breast and shoulders

to
me with your chafing beard

..
Rub rub
to
..
many children
of
of
The old face the mother

:
Whist am fully content

I
.
!
Lulled and late is the smoke of the Sabbath morning ,

It hangs low over the rows of trees by the fences ,
It hangs thin by the sassafras , the wildcherry and the catbrier under them .
I saw the rich ladies in full dress at the soiree ,

Iheard what the run of poets were saying so long ,
Heard who sprang in crimson youth from the white froth and the water - blue .
Behold a woman !
She looks out from her quaker cap .... her face is clearer and more beautiful than
the sky .
She sits in an armchair under the shaded porch of the farmhouse ,

The sun just shines on her old white head .
Her ample gown is of creamhued linen ,

Her grandsons raised the flax , and her granddaughters spun it with the distaff and
the wheel.
The melodious character of the earth !
The finish beyond which philosophy cannot go and does not wish to go !
The justified mother of men !
A YOUNG man
How should the young
to me with a message from his brother ,
came
man know the whether and when of his brother
Tell him to send me the signs.
?
And I
stood before the young man face to face , and took his right hand in my left
hand and his left hand in my right hand ,
And I answered for his brother and for men ....
and I answered for the poet, and
sent these signs.
.... ....
up
all
Him all yield decisive and final

to
wait for his word

is
him
,
.... ....
him
Him they accept amid light

as
perceive
in
in
him lave themselves

,
he
Him they immerse and immerses them

,
Beautiful women the baughtiest nations laws the landscape people and animals
,
,
,
its
The profound earth and attributes and the unquiet ocean

,
,
All enjoyments and properties, and money , and whatever money will buy ,
The best farms . . . . .. others toiling and planting , and he unavoidably reaps ,
The noblest and costliest cities .... others grading and building , and he domiciles
there ;
Nothing for any one but what is for him ....
near and far are for him ,
The ships in the offing the perpetual shows and marches on land are for him if
they are for any body .
He puts things in their attitudes ,

He puts today out of himself with plasticity and love ,
He places his own city , times, reminiscences, parents , brothers and sisters , associ
ations employment and politics , so that the rest never shame them afterward ,
nor assume to command them .
He is the answerer ,
What can be answered he answers , and what cannot be answered he shows how it
cannot be answered .
A man is a summons and challenge ,

It is vain to skulk . Do you hear that mocking and laughter ? Do you hear the
ironical echoes ?
Books friendships philosophers priests action pleasure pride beat up and down
seeking to give satisfaction ;
He indicates the satisfaction , and indicates them that beat up and down also .
Whichever the sex ...

whatever the season or place he may go freshly and gently
and safely by day or by night ,
He has the passkey of hearts ....
to him the response of the prying of hands on the
knobs .
His welcome is universal .... the flow of beauty is not more welcome or universal
than he is ,
The person he favors by day or sleeps with at night is blessed .
Every existence has its idiom every thing has an idiom and tongue ;
all
He resolves tongues into his own and bestows upon men and any man
it
,
translates and any man translates himself also

..
part does not counteract another part He the joiner

he
One how they

is
sees
.
.
join
.
He says indifferently and alike How are you friend

at
to
the President his levee

,
,
?
he
And says Good day my brother Cudge that hoes the sugarfield
to
in
,
And both understand him and know that his speech right
is
He walks with perfect ease the capitol

in
,
He walks among the Congress . ... and one representative says to another , Here is
our equal appearing and new .
Then the mechanics take him for a mechanic ,

And the soldiers suppose him to be a captain and the sailors that he has .. ..
followed the sea ,
And the authors take him for an author ....
and the artists for an artist ,
And the laborers perceive he could labor with them and love them ;
No matter what the work is , that he is one to follow it or has followed it ,
No matter what the nation , that he might find his brothers and sisters there .
The English believe he comes of their English stock ,

A Jew to the Jew he seems a Russ to the Russ .... usual and near
removed from none .
Whoever he looks at in the traveler's coffeehouse claims him ,

The Italian or Frenchman is sure , and the German is sure , and the Spaniard is
sure .... and the island Cuban is sure .
St.
The engineer , the deckhand on the great lakes or on the Mississippi or Law
or
or
Delaware claims him

or
rence Sacramento Hudson
.
The gentleman perfect blood acknowledges his perfect blood
of
,
The insulter the prostitute the angry person the beggar see themselves the ways
in
,
....
he
him strangely transmutes them

of
They are not vile any more they hardly know themselves they are grown
so
,
.
be
You think
be
good
to
would
of
the writer melodious verses

it
,
be
be
Well
to
would good
of
the writer melodious verses

it
But what are verses beyond the flowing character you could have ? ... or
beyond beautiful manners and behaviour
?
Or
beyond one manly apprenticeboy

an
..
or
or
of
affectionate deed old woman

..
?
?
prison likely prison
be
or
or
in
to
man that has been

in
is
UDDENLY
its
out stale and drowsy lair the lair

of
to at of
le’pt
slaves
,
SUDIDe lightning
Like Nithyning Europe le’pt forth
Europe forth half startled .... itself
,
....
Its
Its
upon the ashes and the rags hands tight kings

of
feet the throats

.
hope and faith aching close many

of
lives sickened heart

O
!
!
Turn back unto this day and make yourselves afresh

,
.
And you , paid to defile the People ... you liars mark :
Not for numberless agonies , murders , lusts ,
its
For court thieving in manifold mean forms
,
Worming from his simplicity the poor man's wages
;
by
For many promise sworn royal lips And broken and laughed the breaking
at
in
a
or ,
,
,
all
Then their power not for
in these did the blows strike personal revenge
of
..
the heads
of
the nobles fall
;
The People scorned the ferocity kings
of
.
But the sweetness mercy brewed bitter destruction and the frightened rulers come
of
,
back
:
Each state with his train hangman priest and tax gatherer
in
comes
,
.
-
soldier lawyer jailer and sycophant
,
.
all
Yet behind Shape

lo
a
,
Vague the night draped interminably head front and form

as
scarlet folds
in
,
,
Whose face and eyes none may see
,
robes only this ....

its
the red robes lifted by the arm

of
Out
,
finger pointed high over the top like the head snake appears
of
One
a
,
.
lie
corpses
new made graves bloody corpses young men
of
Meanwhile
in
.
.
:
The rope the gibbet hangs heavily princes are flying ....
of
the bullets
of
the creatures power laugh aloud

of
....
all
And these things bear fruits and they are good

.
Those corpses young

of
men
,
...
by
Those martyrs that hang from the gibbets those hearts pierced the gray lead
,
they seem live elsewhere with unslaughter'd vitality
as
Cold and motionless

..
.
They live other young men kings
in in
,,
,
They live brothers again ready defy you

to
,
....
:
They were purified by death They were taught and exalted

.
....
for
its
Not grave the murdered for freedom but grows seed
of
freedom
in
a
to
turn bear seed

,
Which the winds carry afar and

re
and the rains and the snows nourish

>
sow
,
.
-
let
Not disembodied spirit can the weapons tyrants

of
loose
it a
But stalks invisibly over the earth whispering counseling cautioning

..
....
let
Liberty
of
others despair you never despair you

of
the master away

Is
the house shut

Is
....
be
Nevertheless ready not weary watching

be
of
He will soon return his messengers come anon

.
.
.
.
CLLEARI the way there Jonathan !

Way for the President's marshal ! Way for the government cannon !
Way for the federal foot and dragoons ....
.
and the phantoms afterward .
I rose this morning early to get betimes in Boston town ;

Here's a good place at the corner .. I must stand and see the show .
I love to look on the stars and stripes ..

.
I hope the fifes will play Yankee Doodle .
How bright shine the foremost with cutlasses ,

Every man holds his revolver ...
marching stiff through Boston town .
A fog follows ....

antiques of the same come limping ,
Some appear wooden - legged and some appear bandaged and bloodless .
Why this is a show ! It has called the dead out of the earth ,
The old graveyards of the hills have hurried to see ;
Uncountable phantoms gather by flank and rear of it ,
Cocked hats of mothy mould and crutches made of mist ,
Arms in slings and old men leaning on young men's shoulders .
all
What troubles you , Yankee phantoms What is this chattering bare gums
of
?
?
Does the ague convulse your limbs Do you mistake your crutches for firelocks
,
?
and level them

?
see
you blind your eyes with tears you will not

If If
the President's marshal

you groan such groans you might balk the government cannon ,
.
....
let
For shame old maniacs Bring down those tossed arms and your white
O
!
hair be
;
Here gape your smart grandsons ....

at
their wives gaze them from the windows

,
See how well dressed see how ....

orderly they conduct themselves
-
Worse and worse ....

Can't you stand Are you retreating
it
it
??
living you
Is
this hour with the too dead for

?
Pell mell .... the hills old limpers

to
Retreat then Back

,
-
!
!
do
not think you belong here anyhow

I
But there one thing that belongs here .... tell gentlemen
of
Shall you what

is
is
it
,
I
Boston
?
will whisper the Mayor .... England

he
to
to to
shall send committee

it
,
go a
I
They shall get grant from the Parliament and with cart the royal vault
a
,
a
.
Dig out King George's coffin ....

unwrap him quick from the graveclothes
box up his bones for a journey :
....
for
Find a swift Yankee clipper here is freight you blackbellied clipper
,
Up with your anchor shake out your sails steer straight toward Boston bay ....
.
!
!
Now call the President's marshal again and bring out the government cannon
,
And fetch home the roarers from Congress and make another procession and guard
,
with foot and dragoons
it
.
Here centrepiece for them
is
all a
:
Look orderly citizens look from the windows women
.
!
up
The committee open the box and set the regal ribs and glue those that will not
stay
,
on
on
And clap the skull top the ribs and clap crown top the skull
of
of
a
,
.
....
to
You have got your revenge old buster The crown come its own and more
is
!
than its own

.
Stick your hands your pockets Jonathan you are made man from this day
in
,
mighty .... your bargains
of
You are cute and here one

is
.
forth
day
child
was
, ,
THERE
a
went lookedevery pity

a
the first object upon and received with wonder

he
And
or
or
love
object
he
or
dread that became

,
And that object became part him for the day certain part the day or
or
of
of
a
for many years stretching cycles years

or
of
The early lilacs became part

of
this child
,
And grass and white and red morningglories and white and red clover and the song
,
,
,
of
the phoebe bird

,
-
And the March born lambs and the sow's pink faint
litter and the mare's foal and
or ,
,
-
,
-
by
the cow's calf and the noisy brood the barnyard the pond
of
of
the mire
,
suspending curiously and the

so
and the fish below there

..
side themselves
beautiful curious liquid and the water lants with their graceful flat heads
..
..
.
-p
all
part him
of
became
.
And the prouts April and May became part .... wintergrain sprouts
of
of
field him
,
-s
the light ellow corn and the garden

of
of
and those the esculent roots

of
,
,
-y
And the appletrees covered with blossoms and the fruit afterward and wood ....
,
by
berries and the commonest weeds the road

..
;
And the old drunkard staggering home from the outhouse of the tavern whence he
had lately risen ,
And the schoolmistress that passed on her way to the school .. and the friendly boys
that passed .. and the quarrelsome boys and the tidy and freshcheeked girls . .
and the barefoot negro boy and girl,
all
city and country wherever
he
And the changes went
of
.
His own parents that had propelled the fatherstuff night and fathered him
he
at
..
,
.
.
and she that conceived him her womb and birthed him
in
they gave this
.
of
child more themselves than that
,
They gave him afterward every day .... they and them became part
of
him
of
.
home quietly placing the dishes the suppertable
on
The mother
at
,
The mother with mild words ....
clean her cap and gown .... wholesome odor
a
by
off
falling
as
her person and clothes she walks
:
The father strong selfsufficient manly mean angered unjust
,
,
,
,
The blow the quick loud word the tight bargain the crafty lure
,
,
The family usages the language the company the furniture .... the yearning and
,
,
swelling heart ,
,
gainsayed .... .... the thought

be
Affection that will not

of
The sense what real
is
after all should prove unreal
if
it
The doubts daytime and the doubts nighttime ...

of
the curious whether and how

of
,
....
Or
Whether that which appears

all
so
flashes and specks

so
is
it
is
?
Men and women crowding fast the streets they are not flashes and specks
in
if
.
.
what are they

?
.... the goods

of
The streets themselves and the facades houses

the windows in
,
,
the tiered wharves and the huge crossing

at
Vehicles the ferries

..
..
teams
,
;
....
on
The village the highland seen from afar

at
sunset the river between

or ,
on
light falling roofs and gables

of
Shadows aureola and mist white brown

..
..
,
.
three miles off

,
by
The schooner near sleepily dropping down the tide the little boat slacktowed
..
astern
,
The hurrying tumbling waves and quickbroken crests and slapping

;
....
by
The strata the long bar maroontint away solitary

of
of
colored clouds
....
the spread purity
of
itself lies motionless

in
.
it
The horizon's edge flying seacrow the fragrance

of
the saltmarsh and shoremud

;
,
These became part that child who went forth every day and who now goes and
of
,
go
will always forth every day

,
And these become

or
of
him her that peruses them now

.
W: HO
learns my lesson complete ?
?
Boss and journeyman and apprentice ? churchman and atheist ? ....
The stupid and the wise thinker parents and offspring merchant and clerk
and porter and customer .
editor , author , artist and schoolboy ?
Draw nigh and commence ,

It is no lesson .... it lets down the bars to a good lesson ,
And that to another .... and every one to another still.
The great laws take and effuse without argument ,

I am of the same style , for I am their friend ,
I love them quits and quits .. I do not halt and make salaams.
I
lie
abstracted and hear beautiful tales things and the reasons things
of
of
,
They nudge myself
to
so
are beautiful listen

I
.
any person what .... cannot say myself ...
to
to
cannot say hear
it
is
it
I
I
very wonderful
.
no
its
this round and delicious globe moving
little matter exactly orbit
in
so
It
is
,
,
jolt single
or
of
forever and ever without one the untruth second
;
,
six
do
not think was made days nor ten thousand years nor ten decillions
in
in
it
I
,
of
years
,
an
Nor planned and built one thing after another architect plans and builds
as
house
a
,
.
not think seventy years
do
or
of
the time man woman

is
a
I
Nor that seventy years

of
millions the time man

or
of
woman
is
Nor that years will ever stop the existence any one else
or
of
me
.
every one
be
immortal
is as
wonderful that
should immortal
Is
it
is
,
I
know wonderful but my eyesight ....

equally wonderful .... and how was
it
is
.
I
I
my mother's womb equally wonderful
in
conceived
is
....
of on
And how was not palpable once but am now and was born the last day of
I
May .... and passed from the creeping trance three summers
in
1819 babe
a
to
and three winters articulate and walk

all
are equally wonderful

.
....
six
And that grew six feet high

and that have become man thirty years old
..
I
-
—
..
all
and that am here anyhow equally

in
1855 are wonderful

I
;
we
And that my soul embraces you this hour and affect each other without ever
,
bit
and never perhaps every

as
to
seeing each other see each other

is
,
wonderful
:
And that think such thoughts just

as
as
can these wonderful

is
,
I I
you you just

be
And that
as
to
can remind and think them and know them true

is
,
wonderful
,
And that the moon spins round the earth and on with the earth is equally wonderful ,
And that they balance themselves with the sun and stars is equally wonderful .
Come I should like to hear you tell me what there is in yourself that is not just as
wonderful ,
And I should like to hear the name of anything between Sunday morning and
Saturday night that is not just as wonderful .
.... I too delight in them

GRREAT are the myths ,
Great are Adam and Eve .... I too look back and accept them ;
Great the risen and fallen nations , and their poets , women , sages , inventors , rulers ,
warriors and priests .
Great is liberty Great is equality !

! I am their follower ,
Helmsmen of nations , choose your craft .... I
where you sail I sail,
Yours is the muscle of life or death yours is the perfect science .... in you I
have absolute faith .
Great is today , and beautiful ,

It is good to live in this age . .. there never was any better .
Great are the plunges and throes and triumphs and falls of democracy ,
Great the reformers with their lapses and screams,
Great the daring and venture of sailors on new explorations .
Great are yourself and myself ,

We are just as good and bad as the oldest and youngest or any ,
What the best and worst did we could do ,
What they felt .. do not we feel it in ourselves ?
What they wished .. do we not wish the same ?
Great is youth , and equally great is old age ....

great are the day and night ;
Great is wealth and great is poverty ....
great is expression and great is silence.
Youth large lusty and loving youth full of grace and force and fascination ,
Do you know that old age may come after you with equal grace and force and
fascination ?
Day fullblown and splendid .... day of the immense sun , and action and ambition
and laughter ,
The night follows close , with millions of suns , and sleep and restoring darkness .
Wealth with the flush hand and fine clothes and hospitality :
-
But then the soul's wealth

love :
- which is candor and knowledge and pride and enfolding
Who goes for men and women showing poverty richer than wealth ?
Expression of speech .. in what is written or said forget not that silence is also
expressive ,
That anguish as hot as the hottest and contempt as cold as the coldest may be with
out words ,
That the true adoration is likewise without words and without kneeling .
Great is the greatest nation .. the nation of clusters of equal nations .
Great is the earth , and the way it became what it is ,

Do you imagine it is stopped at this ? and the increase abandoned ? ....
Understand then that it goes as far onward from this as this is from the times when
it lay in covering waters and gases .
Great is the quality of truth in man ,
all
The quality of truth in man supports itself through changes
,
inevitably He and
in
love and never leave each other

in
the man
It
are
it
•
is
.
The truth man no dictum
in
vital eyesight
be as
is
it
is
,
any soul there ....
be
truth
or
there truth there man woman there
If
or is
is
is is if
physical
be
there moral there truth

If
....
all
things
be
equilibrium
be
or
at
volition there truth there upon the
If
there
if
earth there truth

is
truth of the earth truth things am determined

O
to
press the whole way

of
O
I
!
toward you
,
in
Sound your voice scale mountains

or
dive the sea after you

I
!
Great language ....

the mightiest
of
the sciences
is
it
is
the fulness and color and form and diversity ....

of
of
the earth and men and

It
is
all
qualities
of
women and and processes

;
.
.
.
.
....
greater than buildings ships religions
or
or
or
greater than wealth
It
it
is
is
paintings
or
music
.
the English speech .... What speech great

as
Great the English

is is
is
so
the English brood What brood has destiny the English

so
as
Great vast
a
the mother
the brood that must rule the earth with the new rule
It
of
is
The new rule shall rule the love and justice and equality
as
as
the soul rules and

,
in
that are the soul rule

.
Great the law ....

Great are the old few landmarks the law .... they are the
of
is
all times and shall not be disturbed

in
same
.
Great are marriage , commerce , newspapers , books , freetrade , railroads , steamers ,

international mails and telegraphs and exchanges .
Great is Justice ;
Justice is not settled by legislators and laws it is in the soul , ....

It cannot be varied by statutes any more than love or pride or the attraction of
gravity can ,
It is immutable . . it does not depend on majorities .... majorities or what not come
at last before the same passionless and exact tribunal.
For justice are the grand natural lawyers and perfect judges .. itis in their souls ,
It .... ....
for
is well assorted they have not studied nothing the great includes the
less
,
They rule ....
all
the highest grounds they
on
oversee eras and states and

administrations
,
....
go
The perfect judge fears nothing
he
to
could front front before God
,
life and death shall stand back
all
Before the perfect judge shall stand back

heaven and hell shall stand back
.
Great goodness
is
....
;
any more than but

do
not know what know what health know
is
it
is
it
is
I
I
great
.
.... just admire good

as
as
Great wickedness find often admire much
is
it
I
I
I
ness
:
Do you call that paradox certainly paradox

It
is
a
a
?
The eternal equilibrium things great things

of
of
and the eternal overthrow
is
is
great
,
And there another paradox

is
Great life and real and mystical

..
wherever and whoever

is is
,
.
.
all
all
parts together death holds parts

..
..
as
Great death Sure life holds

,
together
;
the stars return again after they merge the light death great life
as
as
Sure
in
is
,

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ora

THE ABOVE IS A FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL LETTERING

Brooklyn , New York :

amid other politics and candor of their physiognomy — the picturesque

impatient ment to freedom — their aversion to anything indeco

not supposed that the

ature while the life which served requirements

has into the new life the new forms

... that ibility slight the air they have

the stalwart and wellshaped heir who approaches the their

and that shall

their ampler largeness and stir

the nation were mon

something the doings that corresponds nature

with without corresponding largeness and

not merely teeming nation generosity the spirit Not nature

Here nation but the citizen

the performance disdaining the trivial unap namely from This

Here own soul the sum the

proached the tremendous audacity profitable uses present

and groupings and the push perspective the subjects

spreads with crampless and flowing

breadth and trot back generation after

prolific and splendid extravagance generation the beauty

showers One the eastern records

must indeed own the riches the summer

sees and sacredness the demonstrable must fall behind

and winter and need never while corn the mythical

that As men not make their

the orchards drop apples

grows from the ground any times the opening

mark out the

the bays contain fish children upon discovery

men beget western continent and what has

their deputies than the small theatre the antique

Other states indicate themselves

the United States not best aimless

the middle ages

most the United States leaves the wealth and

the cities and all returns

ambassadors authors colleges churches finesse commerce and

nor even newspapers inventors agriculture the magnitude geography

Virginia and Maryland and mercantile life and laborsaving machinery

be transcendant and new be indirect and

these much more

pine and cedar and hemlock and liveoak

illustrated and that finish the verse

the wind mountains

.... and pasturage sweet and free poetical

savannah poets will

full stuff most need and

prairie greatest and

screams that answer those and

highhold and orchard oriole

eccentric fail out

mockingbird and buzzard and condor and night

place good and nothing place bad

To him the hereditary every object pro