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And through the orchard and along the old lanes
once more.

13.O male and female!
O the presence of women! (I swear, nothing is more
exquisite to me than the presence of women;)
O for the girl, my mate! O for happiness with my
mate!
O the young man as I pass! O I am sick after the
friendship of him who, I fear, is indifferent
to me.

14.O the streets of cities!
The flitting faces—the expressions, eyes, feet, costumes!
I cannot tell how welcome they are
to me;
O of men—of women toward me as I pass—The
memory of only one look—the boy lingering
and waiting.

15.O to have been brought up on bays, lagoons, creeks,
or along the coast!
O to continue and be employed there all my life!
O the briny and damp smell—the shore—the salt
weeds exposed at low water.
The work of fishermen—the work of the eel-fisher
and clam-fisher.

16.O it is I!
I come with my clam-rake and spade! I come with
my eel-spear;
Is the tide out? I join the group of clam-diggers on
the flats,