University of Virginia Library

1. O ME, man of slack faith so long!
Standing aloof—denying portions so long;
Me with mole's eyes, unrisen to buoyancy and vision
     —unfree,
Only aware to-day of compact, all-diffused truth,
Discovering to-day there is no lie, or form of lie,
     and can be none, but grows just as inevitably
     upon itself as the truth does upon itself,
Or as any law of the earth, or any natural production
     of the earth does.

2. (This is curious, and may not be realized immedi-
     ately—But it must be realized;
I feel in myself that I represent falsehoods equally
     with the rest,
And that the universe does.)

3. Where has failed a perfect return, indifferent of lies
     or the truth?
Is it upon the ground, or in water or fire? or in the
     spirit of man? or in the meat and blood?

4. Meditating among liars, and retreating sternly into
     myself, I see that there are really no liars or
     lies after all,
And that nothing fails its perfect return—And that
     what are called lies are perfect returns,
And that each thing exactly represents itself, and
     what has preceded it,
And that the truth includes all, and is compact, just
     as much as space is compact,
And that there is no flaw or vacuum in the amount
     of the truth—but that all is truth without ex-
     ception,
And henceforth I will go celebrate anything I see
     or am,
And sing and laugh, and deny nothing.