Section 21

The greatness of sons is the exuding of the greatness of mothers and fathers,
The words of poems are the tuft and final applause of science.
Divine instinct, breadth of vision, the law of reason, health, rudeness of body, withdrawnness,
Gayety, sun-tan, air-sweetness—such are some of the words of poems. 20
The sailor and traveler underlie the maker of poems, the answerer ;°
The builder, geometer, chemist, anatomist, phrenologist, artist —all these underlie the maker of poems, the answerer.*
The words of the true poems give you more than poems,
They give you to form for yourself, poems, religions, politics, war, peace, behavior, histories, essays, romances, and everything else,
They balance ranks, colors, races, creeds, and the sexes,
They do not seek beauty—they are sought,
Forever touching them, or close upon them, follows beauty, longing, fain, love-sick.
They prepare for death—yet are they not the finish, but rather the outset,
They bring none to his or her terminus, or to be content and full ;
Whom they take, they take into space, to behold the birth of stars, to learn one of the meanings, 30
To launch off with absolute faith—to sweep through the ceaseless rings, and never be quiet again.
1 “true”? added in 1870,
2 Lines 15 and 16 added in 1870. 3 4 «the answerer’’ added in 1870,
THE ANSWERER 195
POETS TO COME.
First published in 1860.
Poets to come! orators, singers, musicians to come !1
Not to-day is to justify me, and answer what I am for ;?
But you, a new brood, native, athletic, continental, greater than before known,
Arouse ! Arouse—for you must justify me—you must answer.*
I myself * but write one or two indicative words for the future, I but advance a moment, only to wheel and hurry back in the darkness.
I am a man who, sauntering along, without fully stopping, turns a casual look upon you, and then averts his face,
Leaving it to you to prove and define it,
Expecting the main things from you.
5d
I HEAR AMERICA SINGING.
First published in 1860 where line 1 reads ‘‘ American Mouth-Songs.’’
I HEAR America singing, the varied carols I hear ; Those of mechanics—each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong ;
1 «
2 1860 ’67 read ‘‘ Not to-day is to justify me, and Democracy, and what we are for.”’
3 1860767. For line 4 read ‘* You must justify me.’’ After line 4, 1860 reads ‘‘ Indeed, if it were not for you, what would I be? What is the little I have done, except to arouse you?
I depend on being realized, Jong hence, where the broad fat prairies spread, and thence to Oregon and California inclusive,
T expect that the Texan and the Arizonian, ages hence, will understand me,
I expect that the future Carolinian and Georgian will understand me and love me,
I expect that Kanadians, a hundred, and perhaps many hundred years from now, in winter, in the splendor of the snow and woods, or on the icy lakes, will take me with them, and permanently enjoy themselves with me.
Of to-day I know I am momentary, untouched—I am the bard of the future, I but write one or two indicative words for the future,’ etc. 4 «6 myself’ added in 1870.
196 LEAVES OF GRASS
The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank cr beam, The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work ; .
The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat—the deck- hand singing on the steamboat deck ;
The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench-—the hatter sing- ing as he stands ;
The wood-cutter’s song—the ploughboy’s, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown B
The delicious singing of the mother—or of the young wife at work—or of the girl sewing or washing—Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else ;
The day what belongs to the day—At night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly,
Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs." Io
Bd THE CiTY DEAD-HOUSE.
First published in 1867.
By the City Dead-House, by the gate,
As idly sauntering, wending my way from the clangor,
I curious pause—for lo! an outcast form, a poor dead prostitute brought ;
Her corpse they deposit unclaim’d—it lies on the damp brick pavement ;
The divine woman, her body—I see the Body—I look on it alone,
' That house once full of passion and beauty—all else I notice not ;
Nor stillness so cold, nor running water from faucet, nor odors morbific impress me ;
But the house alone—that wondrous house—that delicate fair house—that ruin !
That immortal house, more than all the rows of dwellings ever
built ! Or white-domed Capitol itself, with majestic figure surmounted —or all the old high-spired cathedrals ; ie) That little house alone, more than them all—poor, desperate house !
Fair, fearful wreck! tenement of a Soul! itself a Soul!
Unclaim’d, avoided house! take one breath from my tremulous lips ;
Take one tear, dropt aside as I go, for thought of you,
* 1860 adds ‘‘Come! some of you! still be flooding The States with hun- dreds and thousands of mouth-songs fit for The States only.
CAROL OF OCCUPATIONS 199
Dead house of love! house of madness and sin, crumbled ! crush’d! House of life—erewhile talking and laughing—but ah, poor house! dead, even then ; Months, years, an echoing, garnish’d house—but dead, dead, dead. x
A FARM PICTURE. First published in ‘‘ Drum Taps,’’ 1865. THROUGH the ample open door of the peaceful country barn, A sun-lit pasture field, with cattle and horses feeding ; And haze, and vista, and the far horizon, fading away.
CAROL OF OCCUPATIONS.
First published in 1855. In edition of 1856 under title of ‘‘ Poem of The Daily Work of the Workmen and Workwomen of These States.’’ 1860 as No, 3 “ Chants Democratic.” 1867 under title of “* To Workingmen.’
I CoE closer to me; Push close, my lovers, and take the best I possess ; Yield closer and closer, and give me the best you possess.
This is unfinish’d business with me—How is it with you? (1 was chill’d with the cold types, cylinder, wet paper between us. )
Male and Female !’ I pass so poorly with paper and types, I must pass with the con- tact of bodies and souls.
American masses !* I do not thank you for liking me as I am, and liking the touch of me—I know that it is good for you to do so.
1 Line 3 added in 1870. 2 ¢« Male and Female’’ added in 1860. 3 «¢ American masses’’ added in 1860
198 LEAVES OF GRASS
2
This is the carol’ of occupations ;” 10
In the labor of engines and trades, and the labor of fields, I find the developments,
And find the eternal meanings.
Workmen and Workwomen !*
Were all educations, practical and ornamental, well display’d out
of me, what would it amount to?
Were I as the head teacher, charitable proprietor, wise states- man, what would it amount to?
Were I to you as the boss employing and paying you, would that satisfy you?
The learn’d, virtuous, benevolent, and the usual terms ; A man like me, and never the usual terms.
Neither a servant nor a master am I;
I take no sooner a large price than a small price—I will have my own, whoever enjoys me ; 20
I will be even with you, and you shall be even with me.
If you stand at work in a shop, I stand as nigh as the nighest in the same shop ;*
If you bestow gifts on your brother or dearest friend, I demand as good as your brother or dearest friend ;
If your lover, husband, wife, is welcome by day or night, I must be personally as welcome ;
If you become degraded, criminal, ill, then I become so for your sake ;°
If you remember your foolish and outlaw’d deeds, do you think I cannot remember my own foolish and outlaw’d deeds?
If you carouse at the table, I° carouse at the opposite side of the table ;
1867. For ‘‘carol’’ reads ‘** poem.”’
Lines 10, 11, 12 added in 1867.
*¢ Workmen and Workwomen ”’ added in 1860.
1855 °56 read ‘‘If you are a workman or workwoman, I stand as nigh as the nighest that works in the same shop.”’ .
1855 reads ‘‘If you have become degraded or ill, then I will become so for your sake.”’
§ 1855 reads ‘‘ I say I will carouse,”’ etc.
wm 0 bo
CAROL OF OCCUPATIONS 199
If you meet some stranger in the streets, and love him or her— why I often meet" strangers in the street, and love them.?
Why, what have you thought of yourself?
Is it you then that thought yourself less ? 30
Is it you that thought the President greater than you? ‘
Or the rich better off than you? or the educated wiser than you?
Because your are greasy or pimpled, or that you were once drunk, or a thief,
Or diseas’d, or rheumatic, or a prostitute—or are so now ;
Or from frivolity or impotence, or that you are no scholar, and never saw your name in print,
Do you give in that you are any less immortal ?
3
Souls of men and women! itis not you I call unseen, unheard, untouchable and untouching ;
It is not youl go argue pro and con about, and to settle whether you are alive or no;
I own publicly who you are, if nobody else owns.
Grown, half-grown, and babe, of this country and every country, in-doors and out-doors, one just as much as the other, I see, 40 And all else behind or through them.
The wife—and she is not one jot less than the husband ; The daughter—and she is just as good as the son ; The mother—and she is every bit as much as the father.
1 1855 ’56’60read ‘‘do I not often meet,’’ etc.
2 1855 °56’60. After line 28 read ‘‘ If you see a good deal remarkable in me, I see just as much remarkable in you.”
3 1855 ’56’60, After line 39 read ‘‘I see and hear you and what you give and take,
What is there you cannot give and take?
I see not merely that you are polite or white-faced, married, single, citizens of old States, citizens of new States, eminent in some profession, a lady or gentleman in a parlor, or dressed in the jail uniform, or pulpit uniform.”’
1855 756 to above add “ Not only the free Utahan, Kansian, or Arkansian, not only the free Cuban, not merely the slave, not Mexican native, or Flatfoot, or negro from Africa,
Iroquois eating warflesh, fish-tearer in his lair of rocks and sand, Esquimaux in the dark cold snow-house, Chinese with his transverse eyes, Bedowee, wandering nomad, or tabounshick at the head of his droves.’’
200 LEAVES OF GRASS
Offspring of ignorant and poor,’ boys apprenticed to trades,
Young fellows working on farms, and old fellows working on farms,
Sailor-men, merchant-men, coasters, immigrants,”
All these I see—but nigher and farther the same I see ;
None shall escape me, and none shall wish to escape me.
I bring what you much need, yet always have, 5°
Not money, amours, dress, eating, but as good ;*
Isend no agent or medium, offer no representative of value, but offer the value itself.
There is something that comes home to one now and perpetu- ally ;
It is not what is printed, preach’d, discussed—it eludes discus- sion and print ;
It is not to be put in a book—it is not in this book ;
It is for you, whoever you are—it is no farther from you than your hearing and sight are from yoy ;
It is hinted by nearest, commonest, readiest*—it is ever pro- voked by them.
You may read in many languages, yet read nothing about it ;
You may read the President’s Message, and read nothing about it there ;
Nothing in the reports from the State department or Treasury de- partment, or in the daily papers or the weekly papers, 60
Or in the census or revenue returns, prices current, or any ac- counts of stock.
4
The sun and stars that float in the open air ;
The apple-shaped earth, and we upon it—surely the drift of them is something grand !
Ido not know what it is, except that it is grand, and that it is happiness,
1 1855 ’56 ’60 read ‘ Offspring of those not rich,’’ etc.
7 1855 56’60. For line 47 read ‘* The nfvie, the simple and hardy, he going to the polls to vote, he who has a good time and he who has a bad time ;
Mechanics, Southerners, new arrivals, sailors, man-o’-wars-men, merchant-men, coasters.’”
3 1855 reads ‘‘ but I bring as good.’’
* 1855 °56’60. After ‘‘ readiest’? read ‘it is not them though it is endlessly
provoked by them (What is there ready and near you now?)”’
CAROL OF OCCUPATIONS 201
And that the enclosing purport of us here is not a speculation, or bon-mot, or reconnoissance,
And that it is not something which by ‘luck may turn out well for us, and without luck must be a failure for us,
And not something which may yet be retracted in a certain con- tingency.
The light and shade, the curious sense of body and identity, the greed that with perfect complaisance devours all things, the endless pride and out-stretching of man, unspeakable joys and sorrows,
The wonder every one sees in every one else he sees, and the wonders that fill each minute of time forever,’
What have you reckon’d them for, camerado ? 70
Have you reckon’d them for a trade,’ or farm-work? or for the profits of a store?
Or to achieve yourself a position ? or to filla gentleman’s leisure, or a lady’s leisure ?
Have you reckon’d the landscape took substance and form tage it might be painted in a picture?
Or men and women that they might be written of, and songs sung ?
Or the attraction of gravity, and the great laws and harmonious combinations, and the fluids of the air, as subjects for the savans P
Or the brown land and the blue sea for maps and charts ?
Or the stars to be put in constellations and named fancy names ?
Or that the growth of seeds is for agricultural tables, or agriculture itself?
Old institutions—these arts, libraries, legends, collections, and the practice handed along in manufactures—will we rate them so high ?
Will we rate our cash* and business high?—I have no objec- tion ; 80
11855 75660. After ‘‘forever’’ read ‘‘and each acre of surface and space forever.’’
2 Line 70, Added in 1867.
3 1855 reads ‘‘as mainly for a trade,”’ etc.
4 1855. For ‘‘cash’’ read ‘‘ prudence.”’
202 LEAVES OF GRASS
I rate them as high as the highest—then' a child born of a woman and man I rate beyond all rate.
We thought our Union grand, and our Constitution grand ;
I do not say they are not grand and good, for they are ;
I am this day just as much in love with them as you ;
Then I am in love with you,? and with all my fellows upon the earth.
We consider bibles and religions divine—I do not say they are not divine ;
I say they have all grown out of you, and may grow out of you still ;
It is not they who give the life—it is you who give the life ;
Leaves are not more shed from the trees, or trees from the earth, than they are shed out of you.
5
When the psalm sings instead of the singer ;* go
When the script preaches instead of the preacher ;
When the pulpit descends and goes, instead of the carver that carved the supporting desk ;
When I can touch the body of books, by night or by day, and when they touch my body back again ;
When a university course convinces, like a slumbering woman and child convince ;
When the minted gold in the vault smiles like the night-watch- man’s daughter ;
When warrantee deeds loafe in chairs opposite, and are my friendly companions ;
I intend to reach them my hand, and make as much of them as I do of men and women like you.
The sum of all known reverence* I add up in you, whoever you are ;
The President is there in the White House for you—it is not you who are here for him ;
11855. For ‘‘then”’ read ‘*but.”’ 2 1855 reads ‘‘But I am eternally in love with you,’”’ etc. 1856 reads ‘« Then I am eternally in love with you,”’ etc : : 3 Lines 90 to 97, inclusive, in editions of 1855 ’56 ’60 are placed at the end of the poem. #1855. For ‘reverence’
)
reads ‘‘ value and respect.’’
CAROL OF OCCUPATIONS 203
The Secretaries act in their bureaus for you—not you here for them ; 100
The Congress convenes every Twelfth-month! for you ;
Laws, courts, the forming of States, the charters of cities, the going and coming of commerce and mails, are all for you.
List close, my scholars dear !?
All doctrines, all politics and civilization, exurge from you ;
All sculpture and monuments, and anything inscribed anywhere, are tallied in you ;
The gist of histories and statistics as far back as the records reach, is in you this hour, and myths and tales the same ;