 | Leaves of grass. |  |
399
To a Common Prostitute
1. BE composed—be at ease with me—I am Walt
Whitman, liberal and lusty as Nature,
Not till the sun excludes you, do I exclude you,
Not till the waters refuse to glisten for you, and the
leaves to rustle for you, do my words refuse to
glisten and rustle for you.
Whitman, liberal and lusty as Nature,
Not till the sun excludes you, do I exclude you,
Not till the waters refuse to glisten for you, and the
leaves to rustle for you, do my words refuse to
glisten and rustle for you.
2. My girl, I appoint with you an appointment—and I
charge you that you make preparation to be
worthy to meet me,
And I charge you that you be patient and perfect till
I come.
charge you that you make preparation to be
worthy to meet me,
And I charge you that you be patient and perfect till
I come.
3. Till then, I salute you with a significant look, that
you do not forget me.
you do not forget me.
| Leaves of grass. | |