 | Leaves of grass. |  |
OVER THE CARNAGE ROSE PROPHETIC
A VOICE.
1 OVER the carnage rose prophetic a voice,
Be not dishearten'd — Affection shall solve the problems of Freedom yet;
Those who love each other shall become invincible — they shall yet make Columbia victorious.
2 Sons of the Mother of All! you shall yet be victo- rious!
You shall yet laugh to scorn the attacks of all the re- mainder of the earth.
3 No danger shall balk Columbia's lovers;
If need be, a thousand shall sternly immolate themselves for one.
4 One from Massachusetts shall be a Missourian's com- rade;
From Maine and from hot Carolina, and another an Ore- gonese, shall be friends triune,
More precious to each other than all the riches of the earth.
5 To Michigan, Florida perfumes
shall tenderly come;
Not the perfumes of flowers, but sweeter, and wafted beyond death.
6 It shall be customary in the houses and streets to see manly affection;
The most dauntless and rude shall touch face to face lightly;
The dependence of Liberty shall be lovers,
The continuance of Equality shall be comrades.
7 These shall tie you and band you stronger than hoops of iron;
I, extatic, O partners! O lands! with the love of lovers tie you.
8 Were you looking to be held together by the lawyers?
Or by an agreement on a paper? or by arms?
— Nay — nor the world, nor any living thing, will so cohere.
Be not dishearten'd — Affection shall solve the problems of Freedom yet;
Those who love each other shall become invincible — they shall yet make Columbia victorious.
2 Sons of the Mother of All! you shall yet be victo- rious!
You shall yet laugh to scorn the attacks of all the re- mainder of the earth.
3 No danger shall balk Columbia's lovers;
If need be, a thousand shall sternly immolate themselves for one.
4 One from Massachusetts shall be a Missourian's com- rade;
From Maine and from hot Carolina, and another an Ore- gonese, shall be friends triune,
More precious to each other than all the riches of the earth.
50a
Not the perfumes of flowers, but sweeter, and wafted beyond death.
6 It shall be customary in the houses and streets to see manly affection;
The most dauntless and rude shall touch face to face lightly;
The dependence of Liberty shall be lovers,
The continuance of Equality shall be comrades.
7 These shall tie you and band you stronger than hoops of iron;
I, extatic, O partners! O lands! with the love of lovers tie you.
8 Were you looking to be held together by the lawyers?
Or by an agreement on a paper? or by arms?
— Nay — nor the world, nor any living thing, will so cohere.
| Leaves of grass. | |