 | Leaves of grass. |  |
THOUGHTS.
1.
OF the visages of things—And of piercing through
to the accepted hells beneath;
Of ugliness—To me there is just as much in it as
there is in beauty—And now the ugliness of
human beings is acceptable to me;
Of detected persons—To me, detected persons are
not, in any respect, worse than undetected per-
sons—and are not in any respect worse than I
am myself;
Of criminals—To me, any judge, or any juror, is
equally criminal—and any reputable person is
also—and the President is also.
to the accepted hells beneath;
Of ugliness—To me there is just as much in it as
there is in beauty—And now the ugliness of
human beings is acceptable to me;
Of detected persons—To me, detected persons are
not, in any respect, worse than undetected per-
sons—and are not in any respect worse than I
am myself;
Of criminals—To me, any judge, or any juror, is
equally criminal—and any reputable person is
also—and the President is also.
2.
Of waters, forests, hills,
Of the earth at large, whispering through medium
of me;
Of vista—Suppose some sight in arriere, through the
formative chaos, presuming the growth, fulness,
life, now attained on the journey;
(But I see the road continued, and the journey ever
(A=5)continued;)
Of what was once lacking on the earth, and in due
time has become supplied—And of what will
yet be supplied,
Because all I see and know, I believe to have purport
in what will yet be supplied.
Of the earth at large, whispering through medium
of me;
Of vista—Suppose some sight in arriere, through the
formative chaos, presuming the growth, fulness,
life, now attained on the journey;
409
(A=5)continued;)
Of what was once lacking on the earth, and in due
time has become supplied—And of what will
yet be supplied,
Because all I see and know, I believe to have purport
in what will yet be supplied.
3.
OF persons arrived at high positions, ceremonies,
wealth, scholarships, and the like,
To me, all that those persons have arrived at, sinks
away from them, except as it results to their
bodies and Souls,
So that often to me they appear gaunt and naked,
And often, to me, each one mocks the others, and
mocks himself or herself,
And of each one, the core of life, namely happiness,
is full of the rotten excrement of maggots,
And often, to me, those men and women pass un-
wittingly the true realities of life, and go toward
false realities,
And often, to me, they are alive after what custom
has served them, but nothing more,
And often, to me, they are sad, hasty, unwaked son-
nambules, walking the dusk.
wealth, scholarships, and the like,
To me, all that those persons have arrived at, sinks
away from them, except as it results to their
bodies and Souls,
So that often to me they appear gaunt and naked,
And often, to me, each one mocks the others, and
mocks himself or herself,
And of each one, the core of life, namely happiness,
is full of the rotten excrement of maggots,
And often, to me, those men and women pass un-
wittingly the true realities of life, and go toward
false realities,
And often, to me, they are alive after what custom
has served them, but nothing more,
And often, to me, they are sad, hasty, unwaked son-
nambules, walking the dusk.
410
4.
OF ownership—As if one fit to own things could not
at pleasure enter upon all, and incorporate them
into himself or herself;
Of Equality—As if it harmed me, giving others the
same chances and rights as myself—As if it
were not indispensable to my own rights that
others possess the same;
Of Justice—As if Justice could be any thing but
the same ample law, expounded by natural
judges and saviours,
As if it might be this thing or that thing, according
to decisions.
at pleasure enter upon all, and incorporate them
into himself or herself;
Of Equality—As if it harmed me, giving others the
same chances and rights as myself—As if it
were not indispensable to my own rights that
others possess the same;
Of Justice—As if Justice could be any thing but
the same ample law, expounded by natural
judges and saviours,
As if it might be this thing or that thing, according
to decisions.
5.
As I sit with others, at a great feast, suddenly, while
the music is playing,
To my mind, (whence it comes I know not,) spectral,
in mist, of a wreck at sea,
Of the flower of the marine science of fifty genera-
tions, foundered off the Northeast coast, and
going down—Of the steamship Arctic going
down,
Of the veiled tableau—Women gathered together
on deck, pale, heroic, waiting the moment that
draws so close—O the moment!
O the huge sob—A few bubbles—the white foam
spirting up—And then the women gone,
Sinking there, while the passionless wet flows on—
And I now pondering, Are those women indeed
gone?
Are Souls drowned and destroyed so?
Is only matter triumphant?
the music is playing,
To my mind, (whence it comes I know not,) spectral,
in mist, of a wreck at sea,
Of the flower of the marine science of fifty genera-
tions, foundered off the Northeast coast, and
going down—Of the steamship Arctic going
down,
Of the veiled tableau—Women gathered together
on deck, pale, heroic, waiting the moment that
draws so close—O the moment!
411
spirting up—And then the women gone,
Sinking there, while the passionless wet flows on—
And I now pondering, Are those women indeed
gone?
Are Souls drowned and destroyed so?
Is only matter triumphant?
6.
OF what I write from myself—As if that were not
the resumè;
Of Histories—As if such, however complete, were
not less complete than my poems;
As if the shreds, the records of nations, could possibly
be as lasting as my poems;
As if here were not the amount of all nations, and of
all the lives of heroes.
the resumè;
Of Histories—As if such, however complete, were
not less complete than my poems;
As if the shreds, the records of nations, could possibly
be as lasting as my poems;
As if here were not the amount of all nations, and of
all the lives of heroes.
7.
OF obedience, faith, adhesiveness;
As I stand aloof and look, there is to me something
profoundly affecting in large masses of men, fol-
lowing the lead of those who do not believe in
men.
As I stand aloof and look, there is to me something
profoundly affecting in large masses of men, fol-
lowing the lead of those who do not believe in
men.
412
UNNAMED LANDS
1. NATIONS ten thousand years before These States, and
many times ten thousand years before These
States,
Garnered clusters of ages, that men and women like
us grew up and travelled their course, and
passed on;
What vast-built cities — What orderly republics —
What pastoral tribes and nomads,
What histories, rulers, heroes, perhaps transcending
all others,
What laws, customs, wealth, arts, traditions,
What sort of marriage — What costumes — What
physiology and phrenology,
What of liberty and slavery among them — What
they thought of death and the Soul,
Who were witty and wise — Who beautiful and poetic
— Who brutish and undeveloped,
Not a mark, not a record remains — And yet all
remains.
many times ten thousand years before These
States,
Garnered clusters of ages, that men and women like
us grew up and travelled their course, and
passed on;
What vast-built cities — What orderly republics —
What pastoral tribes and nomads,
What histories, rulers, heroes, perhaps transcending
all others,
What laws, customs, wealth, arts, traditions,
What sort of marriage — What costumes — What
physiology and phrenology,
What of liberty and slavery among them — What
they thought of death and the Soul,
Who were witty and wise — Who beautiful and poetic
— Who brutish and undeveloped,
Not a mark, not a record remains — And yet all
remains.
2. O I know that those men and women were not for
nothing, any more than we are for nothing,
I know that they belong to the scheme of the world
every bit as much as we now belong to it, and as
all will henceforth belong to it.
nothing, any more than we are for nothing,
413
every bit as much as we now belong to it, and as
all will henceforth belong to it.
3. Afar they stand — yet near to me they stand,
Some with oval countenances, learned and calm,
Some naked and savage — Some like huge collections
of insects,
Some in tents — herdsmen, patriarchs, tribes, horse-
men,
Some prowling through woods — Some living peacea-
bly on farms, laboring, reaping, filling barns,
Some traversing paved avenues, amid temples, palaces,
factories, libraries, shows, courts, theatres, won-
derful monuments.
Some with oval countenances, learned and calm,
Some naked and savage — Some like huge collections
of insects,
Some in tents — herdsmen, patriarchs, tribes, horse-
men,
Some prowling through woods — Some living peacea-
bly on farms, laboring, reaping, filling barns,
Some traversing paved avenues, amid temples, palaces,
factories, libraries, shows, courts, theatres, won-
derful monuments.
4. Are those billions of men really gone?
Are those women of the old experience of the earth
gone?
Do their lives, cities, arts, rest only with us?
Did they achieve nothing for good, for themselves?
Are those women of the old experience of the earth
gone?
Do their lives, cities, arts, rest only with us?
Did they achieve nothing for good, for themselves?
5. I believe of all those billions of men and women that
filled the unnamed lands, every one exists this
hour, here or elsewhere, invisible to us, in exact
proportion to what he or she grew from in life,
and out of what he or she did, felt, became, loved,
sinned, in life.
filled the unnamed lands, every one exists this
hour, here or elsewhere, invisible to us, in exact
proportion to what he or she grew from in life,
and out of what he or she did, felt, became, loved,
sinned, in life.
6. I believe that was not the end of those nations, or any
person of them, any more than this shall be the
end of my nation, or of me;
Of their languages, phrenology, government, coins, med-
als, marriage, literature, products, games, juris-
prudence, wars, manners, amativeness, crimes,
prisons, slaves, heroes, poets, I suspect their re-
sults curiously await in the yet unseen world —
counterparts of what accrued to them in the seen
world,
I suspect I shall meet them there,
I suspect I shall there find each old particular of those
unnamed lands.
person of them, any more than this shall be the
end of my nation, or of me;
414
als, marriage, literature, products, games, juris-
prudence, wars, manners, amativeness, crimes,
prisons, slaves, heroes, poets, I suspect their re-
sults curiously await in the yet unseen world —
counterparts of what accrued to them in the seen
world,
I suspect I shall meet them there,
I suspect I shall there find each old particular of those
unnamed lands.
KOSMOS
WHO includes diversity, and is Nature,
Who is the amplitude of the earth, and the coarseness
and sexuality of the earth, and the great charity
of the earth, and the equilibrium also,
Who has not looked forth from the windows, the eyes,
for nothing, or whose brain held audience with
messengers for nothing;
Who contains believers and disbelievers — Who is the
most majestic lover;
Who holds duly his or her triune proportion of realism,
spiritualism, and of the æsthetic, or intellectual,
Who, having considered the body, finds all its organs
and parts good;
Who, out of the theory of the earth, and of his or her
body, understands by subtle analogies, the theory
of a city, a poem, and of the large politics of
These States;
Who believes not only in our globe, with its sun and
moon, but in other globes, with their suns and
moons;
Who, constructing the house of himself or herself, not
for a day, but for all time, sees races, eras, dates,
generations,
The past, the future, dwelling there, like space, insep-
arable together.
Who is the amplitude of the earth, and the coarseness
and sexuality of the earth, and the great charity
of the earth, and the equilibrium also,
Who has not looked forth from the windows, the eyes,
for nothing, or whose brain held audience with
messengers for nothing;
Who contains believers and disbelievers — Who is the
most majestic lover;
Who holds duly his or her triune proportion of realism,
spiritualism, and of the æsthetic, or intellectual,
Who, having considered the body, finds all its organs
and parts good;
Who, out of the theory of the earth, and of his or her
body, understands by subtle analogies, the theory
of a city, a poem, and of the large politics of
These States;
415
moon, but in other globes, with their suns and
moons;
Who, constructing the house of himself or herself, not
for a day, but for all time, sees races, eras, dates,
generations,
The past, the future, dwelling there, like space, insep-
arable together.
A HAND-MIRROR
HOLD it up sternly! See this it sends back! (Who is
it? Is it you?)
Outside fair costume — within, ashes and filth,
No more a flashing eye — no more a sonorous voice
or springy step,
Now some slave's eye, voice, hands, step,
A drunkard's breath, unwholesome eater's face, ve-
nerealee's flesh,
Lungs rotting away piecemeal, stomach sour and
cankerous,
Joints rheumatic, bowels clogged with abomination,
Blood circulating dark and poisonous streams,
Words babble, hearing and touch callous,
No brain, no heart left — no magnetism of sex;
Such, from one look in this looking-glass ere you go
hence,
Such a result so soon — and from such a beginning!
it? Is it you?)
Outside fair costume — within, ashes and filth,
No more a flashing eye — no more a sonorous voice
or springy step,
Now some slave's eye, voice, hands, step,
A drunkard's breath, unwholesome eater's face, ve-
nerealee's flesh,
Lungs rotting away piecemeal, stomach sour and
cankerous,
Joints rheumatic, bowels clogged with abomination,
Blood circulating dark and poisonous streams,
Words babble, hearing and touch callous,
No brain, no heart left — no magnetism of sex;
Such, from one look in this looking-glass ere you go
hence,
Such a result so soon — and from such a beginning!
416
BEGINNERS
How they are provided for upon the earth, (appear-
ing at intervals,)
How dear and dreadful they are to the earth,
How they inure to themselves as much as to any —
What a paradox appears, their age,
How people respond to them, yet know them not,
How there is something relentless in their fate, all
times,
How all times mischoose the objects of their adulation
and reward,
And how the same inexorable price must still be paid
for the same great purchase.
ing at intervals,)
How dear and dreadful they are to the earth,
How they inure to themselves as much as to any —
What a paradox appears, their age,
How people respond to them, yet know them not,
How there is something relentless in their fate, all
times,
How all times mischoose the objects of their adulation
and reward,
And how the same inexorable price must still be paid
for the same great purchase.
TESTS
ALL submit to them, where they sit, inner, secure,
unapproachable to analysis, in the Soul;
Not traditions — not the outer authorities are the
judges — they are the judges of outer authori-
ties, and of all traditions,
They corroborate as they go, only whatever corrobo-
rates themselves, and touches themselves,
For all that, they have it forever in themselves to cor-
roborate far and near, without one exception.
unapproachable to analysis, in the Soul;
Not traditions — not the outer authorities are the
judges — they are the judges of outer authori-
ties, and of all traditions,
They corroborate as they go, only whatever corrobo-
rates themselves, and touches themselves,
For all that, they have it forever in themselves to cor-
roborate far and near, without one exception.
417
SAVANTISM
THITHER, as I look, I see each result and glory re-
tracing itself and nestling close, always obli-
gated;
Thither hours, months, years — thither trades, com-
pacts, establishments, even the most minute,
Thither every-day life, speech, utensils, politics, per-
sons, estates,
Thither we also, I with my leaves and songs, trustful,
admirant,
As a father, to his father going, takes his children
along with him.
tracing itself and nestling close, always obli-
gated;
Thither hours, months, years — thither trades, com-
pacts, establishments, even the most minute,
Thither every-day life, speech, utensils, politics, per-
sons, estates,
Thither we also, I with my leaves and songs, trustful,
admirant,
As a father, to his father going, takes his children
along with him.
PERFECTIONS
ONLY themselves understand themselves, and the like
of themselves,
As Souls only understand Souls.
of themselves,
As Souls only understand Souls.
418
SAYS.
1.
I SAY whatever tastes sweet to the most perfect per-
son, that is finally right.
son, that is finally right.
2.
I SAY nourish a great intellect, a great brain;
If I have said anything to the contrary, I hereby
retract it.
If I have said anything to the contrary, I hereby
retract it.
3.
I SAY man shall not hold property in man;
I say the least developed person on earth is just as
important and sacred to himself or herself, as
the most developed person is to himself or her-
self.
I say the least developed person on earth is just as
important and sacred to himself or herself, as
the most developed person is to himself or her-
self.
4.
I SAY where liberty draws not the blood out of
slavery, there slavery draws the blood out of
liberty,
I say the word of the good old cause in These States,
and resound it hence over the world.
slavery, there slavery draws the blood out of
liberty,
I say the word of the good old cause in These States,
and resound it hence over the world.
419
5.
I SAY the human shape or face is so great, it must
never be made ridiculous;
I say for ornaments nothing outre can be allowed,
And that anything is most beautiful without orna-
ment,
And that exaggerations will be sternly revenged in
your own physiology, and in other persons' phys-
iology also;
And I say that clean-shaped children can be jetted
and conceived only where natural forms prevail
in public, and the human face and form are
never caricatured;
And I say that genius need never more be turned to
romances,
(For facts properly told, how mean appear all
romances.)
never be made ridiculous;
I say for ornaments nothing outre can be allowed,
And that anything is most beautiful without orna-
ment,
And that exaggerations will be sternly revenged in
your own physiology, and in other persons' phys-
iology also;
And I say that clean-shaped children can be jetted
and conceived only where natural forms prevail
in public, and the human face and form are
never caricatured;
And I say that genius need never more be turned to
romances,
(For facts properly told, how mean appear all
romances.)
6.
I SAY the word of lands fearing nothing — I will
have no other land;
I say discuss all and expose all — I am for every
topic openly;
I say there can be no salvation for These States with-
out innovators — without free tongues, and ears
willing to hear the tongues;
And I announce as a glory of These States, that
they respectfully listen to propositions, reforms,
fresh views and doctrines, from successions of
men and women,
Each age with its own growth.
have no other land;
I say discuss all and expose all — I am for every
topic openly;
I say there can be no salvation for These States with-
out innovators — without free tongues, and ears
willing to hear the tongues;
And I announce as a glory of These States, that
they respectfully listen to propositions, reforms,
fresh views and doctrines, from successions of
men and women,
Each age with its own growth.
420
7.
I HAVE said many times that materials and the Soul
are great, and that all depends on physique;
Now I reverse what I said, and affirm that all depends
on the æsthetic or intellectual,
And that criticism is great — and that refinement is
greatest of all;
And I affirm now that the mind governs — and that
all depends on the mind.
are great, and that all depends on physique;
Now I reverse what I said, and affirm that all depends
on the æsthetic or intellectual,
And that criticism is great — and that refinement is
greatest of all;
And I affirm now that the mind governs — and that
all depends on the mind.
8.
WITH one man or woman — (no matter which one —
I even pick out the lowest,)
With him or her I now illustrate the whole law;
I say that every right, in politics or what-not, shall be
eligible to that one man or woman, on the same
terms as any.
I even pick out the lowest,)
With him or her I now illustrate the whole law;
I say that every right, in politics or what-not, shall be
eligible to that one man or woman, on the same
terms as any.
421
DEBRIS
HE is wisest who has the most caution,
He only wins who goes far enough.
He only wins who goes far enough.
ANY thing is as good as established, when that is
established that will produce it and continue it.
established that will produce it and continue it.
WHAT General has a good army in himself, has a
good army;
He happy in himself, or she happy in herself, is
happy,
But I tell you you cannot be happy by others, any
more than you can beget or conceive a child by
others.
good army;
He happy in himself, or she happy in herself, is
happy,
But I tell you you cannot be happy by others, any
more than you can beget or conceive a child by
others.
HAVE you learned lessons only of those who admired
you, and were tender with you, and stood aside
for you?
Have you not learned the great lessons of those who
rejected you, and braced themselves against you?
or who treated you with contempt, or disputed
the passage with you?
Have you had no practice to receive opponents when
they come?
DESPAIRING cries float ceaselessly toward me, day and
night,
The sad voice of Death — the call of my nearest
lover, putting forth, alarmed, uncertain,
This sea I am quickly to sail, come tell me,
Come tell me where I am speeding — tell me my
destination.
you, and were tender with you, and stood aside
for you?
Have you not learned the great lessons of those who
rejected you, and braced themselves against you?
or who treated you with contempt, or disputed
the passage with you?
Have you had no practice to receive opponents when
they come?
422
night,
The sad voice of Death — the call of my nearest
lover, putting forth, alarmed, uncertain,
This sea I am quickly to sail, come tell me,
Come tell me where I am speeding — tell me my
destination.
I UNDERSTAND your anguish, but I cannot help you,
I approach, hear, behold — the sad mouth, the look
out of the eyes, your mute inquiry,
Whither I go from the bed I now recline on, come
tell me;
Old age, alarmed, uncertain — A young woman's
voice appealing to me, for comfort,
A young man's voice, Shall I not escape?
I approach, hear, behold — the sad mouth, the look
out of the eyes, your mute inquiry,
Whither I go from the bed I now recline on, come
tell me;
Old age, alarmed, uncertain — A young woman's
voice appealing to me, for comfort,
A young man's voice, Shall I not escape?
A THOUSAND perfect men and women appear,
Around each gathers a cluster of friends, and gay
children and youths, with offerings.
Around each gathers a cluster of friends, and gay
children and youths, with offerings.
A MASK — a perpetual natural disguiser of herself,
Concealing her face, concealing her form,
Changes and transformations every hour, every mo-
ment,
Falling upon her even when she sleeps.
Concealing her face, concealing her form,
Changes and transformations every hour, every mo-
ment,
Falling upon her even when she sleeps.
423
ONE sweeps by, attended by an immense train,
All emblematic of peace — not a soldier or menial
among them.
All emblematic of peace — not a soldier or menial
among them.
ONE sweeps by, old, with black eyes, and profuse
white hair,
He has the simple magnificence of health and
strength,
His face strikes as with flashes of lightning whoever
it turns toward.
white hair,
He has the simple magnificence of health and
strength,
His face strikes as with flashes of lightning whoever
it turns toward.
THREE old men slowly pass, followed by three others,
and they by three others,
They are beautiful — the one in the middle of each
group holds his companions by the hand,
As they walk, they give out perfume wherever they
walk.
and they by three others,
They are beautiful — the one in the middle of each
group holds his companions by the hand,
As they walk, they give out perfume wherever they
walk.
WOMEN sit, or move to and fro — some old, some
young,
The young are beautiful — but the old are more
beautiful than the young.
young,
The young are beautiful — but the old are more
beautiful than the young.
WHAT weeping face is that looking from the window?
Why does it stream those sorrowful tears?
Is it for some burial place, vast and dry?
Is it to wet the soil of graves?
Why does it stream those sorrowful tears?
Is it for some burial place, vast and dry?
Is it to wet the soil of graves?
424
I WILL take an egg out of the robin's nest in the
orchard,
I will take a branch of gooseberries from the old bush
in the garden, and go and preach to the world;
You shall see I will not meet a single heretic or
scorner,
You shall see how I stump clergymen, and confound
them,
You shall see me showing a scarlet tomato, and a
white pebble from the beach.
orchard,
I will take a branch of gooseberries from the old bush
in the garden, and go and preach to the world;
You shall see I will not meet a single heretic or
scorner,
You shall see how I stump clergymen, and confound
them,
You shall see me showing a scarlet tomato, and a
white pebble from the beach.
BEHAVIOR—fresh, native, copious, each one for him-
self or herself,
Nature and the Soul expressed—America and free-
dom expressed—In it the finest art,
In it pride, cleanliness, sympathy, to have their
chance,
In it physique, intellect, faith—in it just as much as
to manage an army or a city, or to write a book
—perhaps more,
The youth, the laboring person, the poor person,
rivalling all the rest—perhaps outdoing the
rest,
The effects of the universe no greater than its;
For there is nothing in the whole universe that can
be more effective than a man's or woman's daily
behavior can be,
In any position, in any one of These States.
self or herself,
Nature and the Soul expressed—America and free-
dom expressed—In it the finest art,
In it pride, cleanliness, sympathy, to have their
chance,
In it physique, intellect, faith—in it just as much as
to manage an army or a city, or to write a book
—perhaps more,
The youth, the laboring person, the poor person,
rivalling all the rest—perhaps outdoing the
rest,
The effects of the universe no greater than its;
For there is nothing in the whole universe that can
be more effective than a man's or woman's daily
behavior can be,
In any position, in any one of These States.
425
NOT the pilot has charged himself to bring his ship
into port, though beaten back, and many times
baffled,
Not the path-finder, penetrating inland, weary and
long,
By deserts parched, snows chilled, rivers wet, per-
severes till he reaches his destination,
More than I have charged myself, heeded or un-
heeded, to compose a free march for These
States,
To be exhilarating music to them, years, centuries
hence.
into port, though beaten back, and many times
baffled,
Not the path-finder, penetrating inland, weary and
long,
By deserts parched, snows chilled, rivers wet, per-
severes till he reaches his destination,
More than I have charged myself, heeded or un-
heeded, to compose a free march for These
States,
To be exhilarating music to them, years, centuries
hence.
I THOUGHT I was not alone, walking here by the shore,
But the one I thought was with me, as now I walk by
the shore,
As I lean and look through the glimmering light—
that one has utterly disappeared,
And those appear that perplex me.
But the one I thought was with me, as now I walk by
the shore,
As I lean and look through the glimmering light—
that one has utterly disappeared,
And those appear that perplex me.
| Leaves of grass. | |