Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/332

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324
Leaves of Grass.

They too are on the road! they are the swift and
majestic men! they are the greatest women.

42.Over that which hindered them—over that which
retarded—assing impediments large or small,
Committers of crimes, committers of many beautiful
virtues,
Enjoyers of calms of seas, and storms of seas,
Sailors of many a ship, walkers of many a mile of
land,
Habitues of many different countries, habitues of far-distant
dwellings,
Trusters of men and women, observers of cities, solitary
toilers,
Pausers and contemplaters of tufts, blossoms, shells of
the shore,
Dancers at wedding-dances, kissers of brides, tender
helpers of children, bearers of children,
Soldiers of revolts, standers by gaping graves, lowerers
down of coffins,
Journeyers over consecutive seasons, over the years—
the curious years, each emerging from that which
preceded it,
Journeyers as with companions, namely, their own
diverse phases,
Forth-steppers from the latent unrealized baby-days,
Journeyers gayly with their own youth—journeyers
with their bearded and well-grained manhood,
Journeyers with their womanhood, ample, unsurpassed,
content,
Journeyers with their sublime old age of manhood or
womanhood,
Old age, calm, expanded, broad with the haughty
breadth of the universe,