Leaves of Grass Part 34

A Farm Picture

Through the ample open door of the peaceful country barn, A sunlit pasture field with cattle and horses feeding, And haze and vista, and the far horizon fading away.

A Child's Amaze

Silent and amazed even when a little boy, I remember I heard the preacher every Sunday put G.o.d in his statements, As contending against some being or influence.

The Runner

 

On a flat road runs the well-train'd runner, He is lean and sinewy with muscular legs, He is thinly clothed, he leans forward as he runs, With lightly closed fists and arms partially rais'd.

Beautiful Women

Women sit or move to and fro, some old, some young, The young are beautiful-but the old are more beautiful than the young.

Mother and Babe

I see the sleeping babe nestling the breast of its mother, The sleeping mother and babe-hush'd, I study them long and long.

Thought

Of obedience, faith, adhesiveness; As I stand aloof and look there is to me something profoundly affecting in large ma.s.ses of men following the lead of those who do not believe in men.

Visor'd

A mask, a perpetual natural disguiser of herself, Concealing her face, concealing her form, Changes and transformations every hour, every moment, Falling upon her even when she sleeps.

Thought

Of justice-as If could be any thing but the same ample law, expounded by natural judges and saviors, As if it might be this thing or that thing, according to decisions.

Gliding O'er all

Gliding o'er all, through all, Through Nature, Time, and s.p.a.ce, As a s.h.i.+p on the waters advancing, The voyage of the soul-not life alone, Death, many deaths I'll sing.

Hast Never Come to Thee an Hour

Hast never come to thee an hour, A sudden gleam divine, precipitating, bursting all these bubbles, fas.h.i.+ons, wealth?

These eager business aims-books, politics, art, amours, To utter nothingness?

Thought

Of Equality-as if it harm'd me, giving others the same chances and rights as myself-as if it were not indispensable to my own rights that others possess the same.

To Old Age

I see in you the estuary that enlarges and spreads itself grandly as it pours in the great sea.

Locations and Times

Locations and times-what is it in me that meets them all, whenever and wherever, and makes me at home?

Forms, colors, densities, odors-what is it in me that corresponds with them?

Offerings

A thousand perfect men and women appear, Around each gathers a cl.u.s.ter of friends, and gay children and youths, with offerings.