Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/213

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Leaves of Grass.
205

And I answered for his brother, and for men, and I
answered for the Poet, and sent these signs.

3. Him all wait for—him all yield up to—his word is
decisive and final,
Him they accept, in him lave, in him perceive themselves,
as amid light,
Him they immerse, and he immerses them.

4. Beautiful women, the haughtiest nations, laws, the
landscape, people, animals,
The profound earth and its attributes, and the unquiet
ocean,
All enjoyments and properties, and money, and whatever
money will buy,
The best farms—others toiling and planting, and he
unavoidably reaps,
The noblest and costliest cities—others grading and
building, and he domiciles there,
Nothing for any one, but what is for him—near and
far are for him,
The ships in the offing—the perpetual shows and
marches on land, are for him, if they are for any
body.

5. He puts things in their attitudes,
He puts to-day out of himself, with plasticity and
love.
He places his own city, times, reminiscences, parents,
brothers and sisters, associations, employment,
politics, so that the rest never shame them afterward,
nor assume to command them.

18