 | Leaves of grass. |  |
AS NEARING DEPARTURE.
1 As nearing departure,
As the time draws nigh, glooming, a cloud,
A dread beyond, of I know not what, darkens me.
2 I shall go forth,
I shall traverse The States — but I cannot tell whither or how long;
Perhaps soon, some day or night while I am singing, my voice will suddenly cease.
3 O book and chant! must all then amount to but this?
Must we barely arrive at this beginning of me? . . . And yet it is enough, O soul!
O soul! we have positively appear'd — that is enough.
As the time draws nigh, glooming, a cloud,
A dread beyond, of I know not what, darkens me.
2 I shall go forth,
I shall traverse The States — but I cannot tell whither or how long;
Perhaps soon, some day or night while I am singing, my voice will suddenly cease.
3 O book and chant! must all then amount to but this?
Must we barely arrive at this beginning of me? . . . And yet it is enough, O soul!
O soul! we have positively appear'd — that is enough.
28c
| Leaves of grass. | |