University of Virginia Library

106   I am the poet of the Body;
And I am the poet of the Soul.
107  The pleasures of heaven are with me, and the pains      of hell are with me;
The first I graft and increase upon myself — the latter      I translate into a new tongue.
108  I am the poet of the woman the same as the man;
And I say it is as great to be a woman as to be a man;
And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of      men.
109  I chant the chant of dilation or pride;
We have had ducking and deprecating about enough;
I show that size is only development.
110  Have you outstript the rest? Are you the Presi-     dent?
It is a trifle — they will more than arrive there, every      one, and still pass on.
I am he that walks with the tender and growing      night;
I call to the earth and sea, half-held by the night.
112  Press close, bare-bosom'd night! Press close, mag-     netic, nourishing night!
Night of south winds! night of the large few stars!
Still, nodding night! mad, naked, summer night.
113  Smile, O voluptuous, cool-breath'd earth!
Earth of the slumbering and liquid trees;
Earth of departed sunset! earth of the mountains,      misty-topt!
Earth of the vitreous pour of the full moon, just      tinged with blue!
Earth of shine and dark, mottling the tide of the      river!
Earth of the limpid gray of clouds, brighter and      clearer for my sake!
Farblossom'd      earth!
Smile, for your lover comes!
114  Prodigal, you have given me love! Therefore I to      you give love!
O unspeakable, passionate love!