 | Leaves of grass. |  |
2.
I SAY the human shape or face is so great,
it must never
be made ridiculous;
I say for ornaments nothing outré 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 conceiv'd 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 turn'd to romances,
(For facts properly told, how mean appear all ro- mances.)
I say for ornaments nothing outré 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 conceiv'd 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 turn'd to romances,
(For facts properly told, how mean appear all ro- mances.)
| Leaves of grass. | |