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Calamus Poems: Leaves of Grass


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12.

Are you the new person drawn toward me and asking something significant from me?
To begin with, take warning—I am probably far different from what you suppose;
Do you suppose you will find in me your ideal?
Do you think it is easy to have me become your lover?
Do you think the friendship of me would be unalloyed satisfaction?
Do you suppose I am trusty and faithful?
Do you see no further than this façade—this smooth and tolerant manner of me?
Do you suppose yourself advancing on real ground toward a real heroic man?
Have you no thought, O dreamer, that it may be all maya, illusion? O the next step my precipitate you!
359

O let some past deceived one hiss in your ears, howmany have prest on the same as you are pressing now,
How many have fondly supposed what you are supposing now—only to be disappointed.
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