Section 18

9
(America! I do not vaunt my love for you; I have what I have. )
1 1856. For ‘‘lords’’ reads ‘¢ princes.”
SONG OF THE BROAD-AXE 165
The axe leaps !
The solid forest gives fluid utterances ;
They tumble forth, they rise and form,
Hut, tent, landing, survey,
Flail, plough, pick, crowbar, spade, 190
Shingle, rail, prop, wainscot, jamb, lath, panel, gable,
Citadel, ceiling, saloon, academy, organ, exhibition-house, library,
Cornice, trellis, pilaster, balcony, window, shutter, turret, porch,
Hoe, rake, pitch-fork, pencil, wagon, staff, saw, jack-plane, mallet, wedge, rounce,
Chair, tub, hoop, table, wicket, vane, sash, floor,
' Work-box, chest, string’d instrument, boat, frame, and what not,
Capitols of States, and capitol of the nation of States,
Long stately rows in avenues, hospitals for orphans, or for the poor or sick,
Manhattan steamboats and clippers, taking the measure of all seas.
The shapes arise ! 200
Shapes of the using of axes anyhow, and the users, and all that neighbors them,
Cutters down of wood, and haulers of it to the Penobscot or Kennebec,’
Dwellers in cabins among the California mountains, or by the little lakes, or on the Columbia,’
Dwellers south on the banks of the Gila or Rio Grande—friendly gatherings, the characters and fun,
Dwellers up north in Minnesota and by the Yellowstone river— dwellers on coasts and off coasts,
Seal-fishers, whalers, arctic seamen breaking passages through the.1ce.
The shapes arise !
Shapes of factories, arsenals, foundries, markets ;
Shapes of the two-threaded tracks of railroads ;
Shapes of the sleepers of bridges, vast frameworks, girders,
arches ; 210 Shapes of the fleets of barges, towns, lake and canal’ craft, river craft.
1 1856 reads ‘‘or St. John’s,”’ 2 ¢¢or on the Columbia’’ added in 1860. 3 «and canal’’ added in 1870.
166 LEAVES OF GRASS
The shapes arise !
Ship-yards and dry-docks along the Eastern and Western! Seas, and in many a bay and by-place,
The live-oak kelsons, the pine planks, the spars, the hackmatack- roots for knees,
The ships themselves on their ways, the tiers of scaffolds, the workmen busy outside and inside,
The tools lying around, the great auger and little auger, the adze, bolt, line, square, gouge, and bead-plane.
10
The shapes arise !
The shape measur’d, saw’d, jack’d, join’d, stain’d,
The coffin-shape for the dead to lie within in his shroud ;
The shape got out in posts, in the bedstead posts, in the posts of the bride’s bed ; 220
The shape of the little trough, the shape of the rockers beneath, the shape of the babe’s cradle ;
The shape of the floor-planks, the floor-planks for dancers’ feet.
The shape of the planks of the family home, the home of the friendly parents and children,
The shape of the roof of the home of the happy young man and woman—the roof over the well-married young man and woman,
The roof over the supper joyously cook’d by the chaste wife,. and joyously eaten by the chaste husband, content after his day’s work.
The shapes arise !
The shape of the prisoner’s place in the court-room, and of him or her seated in the place ;? __
The shape of the liquor-bar lean’d against by the young rum- drinker and the old rum-drinker ;
The shape of the shamed and angry stairs, trod by sneaking footsteps ;
The shape of the sly settee, and the adulterous unwholesome couple ; 230
1 1856. For ‘‘ Eastern and Western Seas’’ reads ‘¢ Atlantic and Pacific.’ ™ 185660. After line 227 read “ The shape of the pill-box, the disgrace- ful ointment-box, the nauseous application, and him or her applying it.’
SONG OF THE BROAD-AXE 167
The shape of the gambling-board with its devilish winnings and losings ;*
The shape of the step-ladder for the convicted and sentenced murderer, the murderer with haggard face and pinion’d arms,
The sheriff at hand with his deputies, the silent and white-lipp’d crowd, the dangling of the rope.’
The shapes arise !
Shapes of doors giving many exits and entrances ;
The door passing the dissever’d friend, flush’d and in haste ;
The door that admits good news and bad news ;
The door whence the son left home, confident and puff’d up ;
The door he enter’d again from a long and scandalous absence, diseas’d, broken down, without innocence, without means. *
II
Her shape arises, 240
She, less guarded than ever, yet more guarded than ever ;
The gross and soil’d she moves among do not make her gross and soil’d ;
She knows the thoughts as she passes—nothing is conceal’d from here
She is none the less considerate or friendly therefor ;
She is the best belov’d—it is without exception—she has no reason to fear, and she does not fear ;
Oaths, quarrels, hiccupp’d songs, smutty expressions, are idle to her as she passes ;
She is silent—she is possess’d of herself—they do not offend her ;
She receives them as the laws of nature receive them—she is strong,
She too is a law of nature—there is no law stronger than she is.*
1 1856 ’60. After line 227 read ‘‘ The shape of the slats of the bed of a corrupted body, the bed of the corruption of gluttony or alcoholic drinks,”’ 2 1856 6067 read ‘‘ the sickening dangling of the rope.”’ 3 After line 239, 1856 ’60 read ‘‘ Their shapes arise, the shapes of full-sized men ! Men taciturn yet loving, used to the open air, and the manners of the open air Saying their ardor in native forms, saying the old response, Take what I have then, (saying fain,) take the pay you approached for, Take the white tears of my blood, if that is what you are after.”’ 4 After line 249, 1856 ’60 read ‘‘ His shape arises,
168 LEAVES OF GRASS
12
The main shapes arise ! 250 Shapes of Democracy, total—result of centuries ;
Shapes, ever projecting other shapes ;*
Shapes of turbulent manly cities ;
Shapes of the friends and home-givers of the whole earth, Shapes bracing the earth, and braced with the whole earth.
Arrogant, masculine, naive, rowdyish,
Laugher, weeper, worker, idler, citizen, countryman,
Saunterer of woods, stander upon hills, summer swimmer in rivers or by the sea
Of pure American breed, of reckless health, his body perfect, free from taint from top to toe, free forever from headache and dyspepsia, clean- breathed,
Ample-limbed, a good feeder, weight a hundred and eighty pounds, full- blooded, six feet high, forty inches round the breast and back,
Countenance sun-burnt, bearded, calm, unrefined,
Reminder of animals, meeter of savage and gentleman on equal terms,
Attitudes lithe and erect, costume free, neck gray and open, of slow move- ment on foot,
Passer of his right arm round the shoulders of his friends, companion of the street,
Persuader always of people to give him their sweetest touches, and never their meanest,
A Manhattanese bred, fond of Brooklyn, fond of Broadway, fond of the life of the wharves and the great ferries,
Enterer everywhere, welcomed everywhere, easily understood after all,
Never offering others, always offering himself, corroborating his phrenology,
Voluptuous, inhabitive, combative, conscientious, alimentive, intuitive, of copious friendship, sublimity, firmness, self-esteem, comparison, indi- viduality, form, locality, eventuality,
Avowing by life, manners, works, to contribute illustrations of results of The States,
Teacher of the unquenchable creed, namely, egotism,
Inviter of others continually henceforth to try their strength against his.
The main shapes arise !* Shapes of Democracy, final—result of centuries, Shapes of those that do not joke with life, but are in earnest with life, Shapes, ever projecting other shapes, Shapes of a hundred Free States, begetting another hundred north and south, Shapes of turbulent manly cities, Shapes of an untamed breed of young men, and natural persons, Shapes of the women fit for These States, Shapes of the composition of all the varieties of the earth, Shapes of the friends and home-givers of the whole earth, Shapes bracing the whole earth, and braced with the whole earth.”’ 1 After line 252, 1867 reads ‘Shapes of a hundred Free States begetting another hundred.’’ * 1856 reads ‘‘ The shapes arise! Shapes of America, shapes of centuries.’’
SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD 169
SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD. First published in 1856. In that edition and that of 1860 under title of ‘‘ Poem of the Road.”
ay
Aroot and light-hearted, I take to the open road, Healthy, free, the world ‘before me, The long brown path before me, leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune—I myself! am good fortune ; Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing, Strong and content, I travel the open road.
The earth—that is sufficient ;
I do not want the constellations any nearer ;
I know they are very well where they are ;
I know they suffice for those who belong to them. Io
(Still here I carry my old delicious burdens ;
I carry them, men and women—I carry them with me wherever I go;
I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them ;
I am fill’d with them, and I will fill them in return.)
2
You road I enter upon and look around!’ I believe you are not all that is here ; I believe that much unseen is also here.
Here the profound lesson of reception, neither preference or denial ;
The black with his woolly head, the felon, the diseas’d, the il- literate person, are not denied ;
The birth, the hasting after the physician, the beggar’s tramp, the drunkard’s stagger, the laughing party of mechanics,
J “« myself”? added in 1867. 2 1856 ’60 read ‘‘ Your road I travel and look around!’’
170 LEAVES OF GRASS
The escaped youth, the rich person’s carriage, the fop, the elop- ing couple, 20
The early market-man, the hearse, the moving of furniture into the town, the return back from the town,
They pass—I also pass—anything passes—none can be inter- dicted ;
None but are accepted—none but are dear to me.
3
You air that serves me with breath to speak !
You objects that call from diffusion my meanings, and give them shape !
You light that wraps me and all things in delicate equable showers !*
You paths worn in the irregular hollows by the roadsides !
I think you are latent with unseen? existences—you are so dear to me.
You flagg’d walks of the cities! you strong curbs at the edges !
You ferries! you planks and posts of wharves! you timber-lined sides! you distant ships! 30
You rows of houses! you window-pierc’d facades! you roofs!
You porches and entrances! you copings and iron guards !
You windows whose transparent shells might expose so much!
You doors and ascending steps! you arches !
You gray stones of interminable pavements! you trodden cross- ings ! ¥
From all that has been near you, I believe you have imparted to yourselves, and now would impart the same secretly to me ;
From the living and the dead I think you have peopled your im- passive surfaces, and the spirits thereof would be evident and amicable with me.
4
The earth expanding right hand and left hand, The picture alive, every part in its best light,
11856 ’60’67. After line 26 read ‘‘ You animals moving serenely over the earth ! You birds that wing yourselves through the air! you insects ! You sprouting growths from the farmers’ fields! you stalks and weeds by the fences !’” 2 1856 ’60 for ‘‘ unseen’’ read ‘ curious,”’
SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD E71
The music falling in where it is wanted, and stopping where it is
not wanted, 40 The cheerful voice of the public road—the gay fresh sentiment of the road.
O highway I travel! O public road! do you say to me, Do not leave me ?
Do you say, Venture not? If you leave me, you are lost ?
Do you say, J am already prepared—TI am well-beaten and un- dented—adhere to me ?
O public road! I say back, I am not afraid to leave you—yet I love you ;
You express me better than I can express myself ;
You shall be more to me than my poem.
I think heroic deeds were all conceiv’d in the open air, and all great poems also ;
I think I could stop here myself, and do miracles ;
(My judgments, thoughts, I henceforth try by the open air, the
road ; )* 5° I think whatever I shall meet on the road I shall like, and who-
ever beholds me shall like me; I think whoever I see must be happy.
From this hour, freedom !
From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines,
Going where I list, my own master, total and absolute,
Listening to others, and considering well what they say,
Pausing, searching, receiving, contemplating,
Gently, but with undeniable will, divesting myself of the holds that would hold me.
I inhale great draughts of space ;” The east and the west are mine, and the north and the south are
mine. 60
I am larger, better than I thought ; I did not know I held so much goodness.
1 Line 50 added in 1870. 2 1856760767. For ‘space’ read * air,””
172 LEAVES OF GRASS
All seems beautiful to me ; I can repeat over to men and women, You have done such good to me, I would do the same to you.
I will recruit for myself and you as I go;
I will scatter myself among men and women as I go ;
I will toss the new gladness and roughness among them ; Whoever denies me, it shall not trouble me ;
Whoever accepts me, he or she shall be blessed, and shall bless
me. 6 Now if a thousand perfect men were to appear, it would not amaze me ; 70
Now if a thousand beautiful forms of women appear’d, it would not astonish me.
Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons, It is to grow in the open air, and to eat and sleep with the earth.
Here’ a great personal deed has room ;
A great deed seizes upon the hearts of the whole race of men,
Its effusion of strength and will overwhelms law, and mocks all authority and all argument against it.
Here is the test of wisdom ; Wisdom is not finally tested in schools ; Wisdom cannot be pass’d from one having it, to another not
having it ; Wisdom is of the Soul, is not susceptible of proof, is its own proof, 80
Applies to all stages and objects and qualities, and is content,
Is the certainty of the reality and immortality of things, and the excellence of things ;
Something there is in the float of the sight of things that pro- vokes it out of the Soul.
Now I reéxamine philosophies and religions,
They may prove well ‘n lecture-rooms, yet not prove at all under the spacious clouds, and along the landscape and flowing currents.
1 1856’60 67. Line 74 begins “ Here is space—here a great,”? etc.
SONG OF THE OPEN ROAD 3
Here 1s realization ;
Here is a man tallied—he realizes here what he has in him ;
The past, the future, majesty, love'—if they are vacant of you, you are vacant of them.
Only the kernel of every object nourishes ;
Where is he who tears off the husks for you and me? go Where is he that undoes stratagems and envelopes for you and me?
Here is adhesiveness—it is not previously fashion’d—it is apropos ;
Do you know what it is, as you pass, to be loved by strangers ?
Do you know the talk of those turning eye-balls ?
Here is the efflux of the Soul ;
The efflux of the Soul comes from within, through embower’d gates, ever provoking questions :?
These yearnings, why are they? These thoughts in the dark- ness, why are they ?
Why are there men and women that while they are nigh me, the sun-light expands my blood ?
Why, when they leave me, do my pennants of joy sink flat and
lank ? Why are there trees I never walk under, but large and melodious thoughts descend upon me? 100
(i think they hang there winter and summer on those trees, and always drop fruit as I pass ;)
What is it I interchange so suddenly with strangers ?
What with some driver, as I ride on the seat by his side ?
What with some fisherman, drawing his seine by the shore, as I walk by, and pause?
What gives me to be free to a woman’s or man’s good-will? What gives them to be free to mine?
8 The efflux of the Soul is happiness—here is happiness ; I think it pervades the open air, waiting at all times ; Now it flows unto us—we are rightly charged.
1 1856 ’60 ’67 read ‘‘ The animals, the past, the future, light, space, maj- esty, love, if they,’’ etc.
2 185660 read ‘‘ The efflux of the soul comes through beautiful gates of laws, provoking questions.”’
174 _ LEAVES OF GRASS
Here rises the fluid and attaching character ;
The fluid and attaching character is the freshness and sweetness of man and woman ; ILO
(The herbs of the morning sprout no fresher and sweeter every day out of the roots of themselves, than it sprouts fresh and sweet continually out of itself. )
Toward the fluid and attaching character exudes the sweat of the love of young and old ;
From it falls distill’d the charm that mocks beauty and attain- ments ;
Toward it heaves the shuddering longing ache of contact.
2)
Allons ! whoever you are, come travel with me! Traveling with me, you find what never tires.
The earth never tires ;