Leaves of grass. | ||
5
16 The markets, the
government, the working-man's
wages
— to think what account they are through
our nights
and days !
To think that other working-men will make just as great account of them — yet we make little or no account !
17 The vulgar and the refined — what you call sin, and what you call goodness — to think how wide a difference !
To think the difference will still continue to others, yet we lie beyond the difference.
18 To think how much pleasure there is !
Have you pleasure from looking at the sky? have you pleasure from poems ?
Do you enjoy yourself in the city ? or engaged in business ? or planning a nomination and elec- tion ? or with your wife and family ?
Or with your mother and sisters ? or in womanly house-work ? or the beautiful maternal cares ?
These also flow onward to others — you and I flow onward,
But in due time you and I shall take less interest in them.
19 Your farm, profits, crops, — to think how engross'd you are !
To think there will still be farms, profits, crops — yet for you, of what avail ?
To think that other working-men will make just as great account of them — yet we make little or no account !
17 The vulgar and the refined — what you call sin, and what you call goodness — to think how wide a difference !
To think the difference will still continue to others, yet we lie beyond the difference.
18 To think how much pleasure there is !
Have you pleasure from looking at the sky? have you pleasure from poems ?
Do you enjoy yourself in the city ? or engaged in business ? or planning a nomination and elec- tion ? or with your wife and family ?
Or with your mother and sisters ? or in womanly house-work ? or the beautiful maternal cares ?
These also flow onward to others — you and I flow onward,
But in due time you and I shall take less interest in them.
19 Your farm, profits, crops, — to think how engross'd you are !
To think there will still be farms, profits, crops — yet for you, of what avail ?
Leaves of grass. | ||