Leaves of Grass | ||
17 — Poem of The Heart of The Son of Manhattan Island.
WHO has gone farthest? For I swear I will go
And who has been just? For I would be the most just person of the earth;
And who most cautious? For I would be more
And who has been happiest? O I think it is I! I think no one was ever happier than I;
And who has lavished all? For I lavish con- stantly the best I have;
And who has been firmest? For I would be
And who proudest? For I think I have reason to be the proudest son alive — for I am the son of the brawny and tall-topt city;
And who has been bold and true? For I would be the boldest and truest being of the uni-
And who benevolent? For I would show more benevolence than all the rest;
And who has projected beautiful words through
the longest time? By God! I will outvie
him! I will say such words, they shall
stretch through longer time!
And who has received the love of the most friends? For I know what it is to receive the passionate love of many friends;
And to whom has been given the sweetest from women, and paid them in kind? For I will take the like sweets, and pay them in kind;
And who possesses a perfect and enamored body? For I do not believe any one possesses a more perfect or enamored body than mine;
And who thinks the amplest thoughts? For I will surround those thoughts;
And who has made hymns fit for the earth? For I am mad with devouring ecstasy to make joyous hymns for the whole earth!
And who has been just? For I would be the most just person of the earth;
And who most cautious? For I would be more
And who has been happiest? O I think it is I! I think no one was ever happier than I;
And who has lavished all? For I lavish con- stantly the best I have;
And who has been firmest? For I would be
And who proudest? For I think I have reason to be the proudest son alive — for I am the son of the brawny and tall-topt city;
And who has been bold and true? For I would be the boldest and truest being of the uni-
And who benevolent? For I would show more benevolence than all the rest;
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And who has received the love of the most friends? For I know what it is to receive the passionate love of many friends;
And to whom has been given the sweetest from women, and paid them in kind? For I will take the like sweets, and pay them in kind;
And who possesses a perfect and enamored body? For I do not believe any one possesses a more perfect or enamored body than mine;
And who thinks the amplest thoughts? For I will surround those thoughts;
And who has made hymns fit for the earth? For I am mad with devouring ecstasy to make joyous hymns for the whole earth!
Leaves of Grass | ||