 | Leaves of grass (1872) |  |
8
23
I am the credulous man of qualities, ages, races;I advance from the people in their own spirit;
Here is what sings unrestricted faith.
18
24
Omnes! Omnes! let others ignore what they may;I make the poem of evil also—I commemorate that part also;
I am myself just as much evil as good, and my nation is—And I say there is in fact no evil;
(Or if there is, I say it is just as important to you, to the land, or to me, as anything else.)
25
I too, following many, and follow'd by many, inaugurate a Religion—I descend into the arena;(It may be I am destin'd to utter the loudest cries there, the winner's pealing shouts;
Who knows? they may rise from me yet, and soar above every thing.)
26
Each is not for its own sake;I say the whole earth, and all the stars in the sky, are for Religion's sake.
27
I say no man has ever yet been half devout enough;None has ever yet adored or worship'd half enough;
None has begun to think how divine he himself is, and how certain the future is.
28
I say that the real and permanent grandeur of These States must be their Religion;Otherwise there is no real and permanent grandeur:
(Nor character, nor life worthy the name, without Religion;
Nor land, nor man or woman, without Religion.)
| Leaves of grass (1872) | |