 | Leaves of grass. |  |
AH POVERTIES, WINCINGS, AND SULKY RETREATS.
AH poverties, wincings, and sulky
retreats!
Ah you foes that in conflict have overcome me!
(For what is my life, or any man's life, but a conflict with foes — the old, the incessant war?)
You degradations — you tussle with passions and appetites;
You smarts from dissatisfied friendships, (ah wounds, the sharpest of all;)
You toil of painful and choked articulations — you mean- nesses;
You shallow tongue lowest of any;)
You broken resolutions, you racking angers, you smother'd ennuis;
Ah, think not you finally triumph — My real self has yet to come forth;
It shall yet march forth o'ermastering, till all lies beneath me;
It shall yet stand up the soldier of unquestion'd victory.
Ah you foes that in conflict have overcome me!
(For what is my life, or any man's life, but a conflict with foes — the old, the incessant war?)
You degradations — you tussle with passions and appetites;
You smarts from dissatisfied friendships, (ah wounds, the sharpest of all;)
You toil of painful and choked articulations — you mean- nesses;
You shallow tongue lowest of any;)
You broken resolutions, you racking angers, you smother'd ennuis;
Ah, think not you finally triumph — My real self has yet to come forth;
It shall yet march forth o'ermastering, till all lies beneath me;
It shall yet stand up the soldier of unquestion'd victory.
19b
| Leaves of grass. | |