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Leaves of grass (1872)

Whitman, Walt (1819-1892)

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Leaves of Grass.
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INSCRIPTIONS.
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Starting from Paumanok.
  
THE SHIP STARTING.
  
UNFOLDED OUT OF THE FOLDS.
  
TO YOU.
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WALT WHITMAN.
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Laws for Creations.
  
VISOR'D.
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CHILDREN OF ADAM.
  
To Him that was Crucified.
  
Perfections.
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CALAMUS.
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SALUT AU MONDE!
  
A Child's Amaze.
  
The Runner.
  
Beautiful Women.
  
Mother and Babe.
  
Thought.
  
American Feuillage.
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Song of the Broad-Axe.
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Song of the Open Road.
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Leaves of Grass.
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Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.
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WITH ANTECEDENTS.
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THE ANSWERER.
  
The City Dead-House.
  
A Farm Picture.
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Carol of Occupations.
  
THOUGHTS.
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THE SLEEPERS.
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CAROL OF WORDS.
  
Ah Poverties, Wincings, and Sulky Retreats.
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Leaves of Grass.
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A Broadway Pageant.
  
SUGGESTIONS.
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Great are the Myths.
  
Thought.
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Leaves of Grass.
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DRUM-TAPS.
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Leaves of Grass.
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Marches now the War is Over.
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Leaves of Grass.
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Bathed in War's Perfume.
  
A Hand-Mirror.
  
Germs.
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Leaves of Grass.
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Songs of Insurrection.
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Leaves of Grass.
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SONGS OF PARTING.
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PASSAGE TO INDIA.

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44

289

It is time to explain myself—Let us stand up.

290

What is known I strip away;
I launch all men and women forward with me into THE Unknown.

291

The clock indicates the moment—but what does eternity indicate?

292

We have thus far exhausted trillions of winters and summers;
There are trillions ahead, and trillions ahead of them.
86

293

Births have brought us richness and variety,
And other births will bring us richness and variety.

294

I do not call one greater and one smaller;
That which fills its period and place is equal to any.

295

Were mankind murderous or jealous upon you, my brother, my sister?
I am sorry for you—they are not murderous or jealous upon me;
All has been gentle with me—I keep no account with lamentation;
(What have I to do with lamentation?)

296

I am an acme of things accomplish'd, and I an encloser of things to be.

297

My feet strike an apex of the apices of the stairs;
On every step bunches of ages, and larger bunches between the steps;
All below duly travel'd, and still I mount and mount.

298

Rise after rise bow the phantoms behind me;
Afar down I see the huge first Nothing—I know I was even there;
I waited unseen and always, and slept through the lethargic mist.
And took my time, and took no hurt from the fetid carbon.

299

Long I was hugg'd close—long and long.

300

Immense have been the preparations for me,
Faithful and friendly the arms that have help'd me.

301

Cycles ferried my cradle, rowing and rowing like cheerful boatmen;
For room to me stars kept aside in their own rings;
They sent me influences to look after what was to hold me.
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Before I was born out of my mother, generations guided me;
My embryo has never been torpid—nothing could overlay it.

303

For it the nebula cohered to an orb,
The long slow strata piled to rest it on,
Vast vegetables gave it sustenance,
Monstrous sauroids transported it in their mouths, and deposited it with care.

304

All forces have been steadily employ'd to complete and delight me;
Now on this spot I stand with my robust Soul.
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