Page:Leaves of Grass (1855).djvu/74

It is not to diffuse you that you were born of your mother and father – it is to identify you,
It is not that you should be undecided, but that you should be decided;
Something long preparing and formless is arrived and formed in you,
You are thenceforth secure, whatever comes or goes.

The threads that were spun are gathered .... the weft crosses the warp .... the pattern is systematic.

The preparations have every one been justified;
The orchestra have tuned their instruments sufficiently .... the baton has given the signal.

The guest that was coming .... he waited long for reasons .... he is now housed,
He is one of those who are beautiful and happy .... he is one of those that to look upon and be with is enough.

The law of the past cannot be eluded,
The law of the present and future cannot be eluded,
The law of the living cannot be eluded .... it is eternal,
The law of promotion and transformation cannot be eluded,
The law of heroes and good-doers cannot be eluded,
The law of drunkards and informers and mean persons cannot be eluded.

Slowmoving and black lines go ceaselessly over the earth,
Northerner goes carried and southerner goes carried .... and they on the Atlantic side and they on the Pacific, and they between, and all through the Mississippi country .... and all over the earth.

The great masters and kosmos are well as they go .... the heroes and good-doers are well,
The known leaders and inventors and the rich owners and pious and distinguished may be well,
But there is more account than that .... there is strict account of all.

The interminable hordes of the ignorant and wicked are not nothing,
The barbarians of Africa and Asia are not nothing,
The common people of Europe are not nothing .... the American aborigines are not nothing,
A zambo or a foreheadless Crowfoot or a Camanche is not nothing,
The infected in the immigrant hospital are not nothing .... the murderer or mean person is not nothing,
The perpetual succession of shallow people are not nothing as they go,
The prostitute is not nothing .... the mocker of religion is not nothing as he goes.

I shall go with the rest .... we have satisfaction: