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 | Leaves of grass. |  |
4
19 Trippers and askers
su0rround me;
People I meet — the effect upon me of my early life, or the ward and city I live in, or the nation,
The latest dates, discoveries, inventions, societies, authors old and new,
My dinner, dress, associates, looks, compliments, dues,
The real or fancied indifference of some man or woman I love,
The sickness of one of my folks, or of myself, or ill- doing, or loss or lack of money, or depressions or exaltations;
Battles, the horrors of fratricidal war, the fever of doubtful news, the fitful events;
These come to me days and nights, and go from me again,
But they are not the Me myself.
20 Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what I am;
Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary;
Looks down, is erect, or bends an arm on an impalpa- ble certain rest,
Looking with side-curved head, curious what will come
next;
Both in and out of the game, and watching and won- dering at it.
21 Backward I see in my own days where I sweated through fog with linguists and contenders;
I have no mockings or arguments — I witness and wait.
People I meet — the effect upon me of my early life, or the ward and city I live in, or the nation,
The latest dates, discoveries, inventions, societies, authors old and new,
My dinner, dress, associates, looks, compliments, dues,
The real or fancied indifference of some man or woman I love,
The sickness of one of my folks, or of myself, or ill- doing, or loss or lack of money, or depressions or exaltations;
Battles, the horrors of fratricidal war, the fever of doubtful news, the fitful events;
These come to me days and nights, and go from me again,
But they are not the Me myself.
20 Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what I am;
Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary;
Looks down, is erect, or bends an arm on an impalpa- ble certain rest,
27
Both in and out of the game, and watching and won- dering at it.
21 Backward I see in my own days where I sweated through fog with linguists and contenders;
I have no mockings or arguments — I witness and wait.
| Leaves of grass. | |