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1.

O HASTENING light!
O free and extatic! O what I here, preparing, warble      for!
O the sun of the world will ascend, dazzling, and take      his height — and you too will ascend!
O so amazing and broad — up there resplendent, dart-     ing and burning!
O vision prophetic, stagger'd with weight of light!      with pouring glories!
O lips of my soul, already becoming powerless!
O ample and grand Presidentiads!
New history! new heroes! I project you!
Visions of poets! only you really last! O sweep on!      sweep on!
O heights too swift and dizzy yet!
O purged and luminous! you threaten me more than      I can stand!
(I must not venture — the ground under my feet men-     aces me — it will not support me;)
O present! I return to you while yet I may!