University of Virginia Library

18   Ages, precedents, chants, have long been accumu-     lating undirected materials,
America brings builders, and brings its own styles.
19  The poets of Asia and Europe have done their work,      and pass'd to other spheres,
One work forever remains, the work of surpassing all      they have done.
20  America, curious toward foreign characters, stands      by its own at all hazards,
Stands removed, spacious, composite, sound, initiates      the true use of precedents,
Does not repel them, or the past, or what they have      produced under their forms,
Takes the lesson with calmness, perceives the corpse      slowly borne from the house,
Perceives that it waits a little while in the door — that      it was fittest for its days,
That its life has descended to the stalwart and well-     shaped heir who approaches,
And that he shall be fittest for his days.
21  Any period, one nation must lead,
One land must be the promise and reliance of the      future.
22  These States are the amplest poem,
Here is not merely a nation, but a teeming nation of      nations,
Here the doings of men correspond with the broad-     cast doings of the day and night,
Here is what moves in magnificent masses, careless of      particulars,
Here are the roughs, beards, friendliness, combative-     ness, the Soul loves,
Here the flowing trains — here the crowds, equality,      diversity, the Soul loves.