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 | Leaves of grass. |  |
4
16 The Lord advances, and
yet advances;
Always the shadow in front — always the reach'd hand bringing up the laggards.
17 Out of this face emerge banners and horses — O su- perb! I see what is coming;
I see the high pioneer-caps — I see the staves of run- ners clearing the way,
I hear victorious drums.
18 This face is a
life-boat;
This is the face commanding and bearded, it asks no odds of the rest;
This face is flavor'd fruit, ready for eating;
This face of a healthy honest boy is the programme of all good.
19 These faces bear testimony slumbering or awake;
They show their descent from the Master himself.
20 Off the word I have spoken I except not one — red, white, black, are all deific;
In each house is the ovum — it comes forth after a thousand years.
21 Spots or cracks at the windows do not disturb me;
Tall and sufficient stand behind, and make signs to me;
I read the promise, and patiently wait.
22 This is a full-grown lily's face,
She speaks to the limber-hipp'd man near the garden pickets,
Come here, she blushingly cries — Come nigh to me, lim- ber-hipp'd man,
Stand at my side till I lean as high as I can upon you,
Fill me with albescent honey, bend down to me,
Rub to me with your chafing beard, rub to my breast and shoulders.
Always the shadow in front — always the reach'd hand bringing up the laggards.
17 Out of this face emerge banners and horses — O su- perb! I see what is coming;
I see the high pioneer-caps — I see the staves of run- ners clearing the way,
I hear victorious drums.
210
This is the face commanding and bearded, it asks no odds of the rest;
This face is flavor'd fruit, ready for eating;
This face of a healthy honest boy is the programme of all good.
19 These faces bear testimony slumbering or awake;
They show their descent from the Master himself.
20 Off the word I have spoken I except not one — red, white, black, are all deific;
In each house is the ovum — it comes forth after a thousand years.
21 Spots or cracks at the windows do not disturb me;
Tall and sufficient stand behind, and make signs to me;
I read the promise, and patiently wait.
22 This is a full-grown lily's face,
She speaks to the limber-hipp'd man near the garden pickets,
Come here, she blushingly cries — Come nigh to me, lim- ber-hipp'd man,
Stand at my side till I lean as high as I can upon you,
Fill me with albescent honey, bend down to me,
Rub to me with your chafing beard, rub to my breast and shoulders.
| Leaves of grass. | |