 | Leaves of grass. |  |
6
16 Dead poets, philosophs,
priests,
Martyrs, artists, inventors, governments long since,
Language-shapers, on other shores,
Nations once powerful, now reduced, withdrawn, or desolate,
I dare not proceed till I respectfully credit what you have left, wafted hither :
I have perused it — own it is admirable, (moving awhile among it;)
Think nothing can ever be greater — nothing can ever deserve more than it deserves;
Regarding it all intently a long while, then dismiss- ing it,
I stand in my place, with my own day, here
17 Here lands female and male;
Here the heirship and heiress-ship of the world — here the flame of materials;
Here Spirituality, the translatress, the openly-avow'd,
The ever-tending, the finale of visible forms;
The satisfier, after due long-waiting, now advancing,
Yes, here comes my mistress, the Soul.
Martyrs, artists, inventors, governments long since,
Language-shapers, on other shores,
Nations once powerful, now reduced, withdrawn, or desolate,
I dare not proceed till I respectfully credit what you have left, wafted hither :
I have perused it — own it is admirable, (moving awhile among it;)
Think nothing can ever be greater — nothing can ever deserve more than it deserves;
Regarding it all intently a long while, then dismiss- ing it,
I stand in my place, with my own day, here
17 Here lands female and male;
Here the heirship and heiress-ship of the world — here the flame of materials;
Here Spirituality, the translatress, the openly-avow'd,
The ever-tending, the finale of visible forms;
The satisfier, after due long-waiting, now advancing,
Yes, here comes my mistress, the Soul.
| Leaves of grass. | |