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Leaves of Grass (1860)
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MANNAHATTA.
I WAS asking for something specific and perfect for
my city, and behold! here is the aboriginal
name!
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Now I see what there is in a name, a word, liquid,
sane, unruly, musical, self-sufficient,
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I see that the word of my city, is that word up there, |
Because I see that word nested in nests of water-bays,
superb, with tall and wonderful spires,
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Rich, hemmed thick all around with sailships and
steamships—an island sixteen miles long, solid-
founded,
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Numberless crowded streets—high growths of iron,
slender, strong, light, splendidly uprising toward
clear skies;
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Tides swift and ample, well-loved by me, toward sun-
down,
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The flowing sea-currents, the little islands, the larger
adjoining islands, the heights, the villas,
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The countless masts, the white shore-steamers, the
lighters, the ferry-boats, the black sea-steamers,
well-model'd;
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The down-town streets, the jobbers' houses of business
—the houses of business of the ship-merchants,
and money-brokers—the river-streets,
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Immigrants arriving, fifteen or twenty thousand in a
week,
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The carts hauling goods—the manly race of drivers
of horses—the brown-faced sailors,
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The summer-air, the bright sun shining, and the sail-
ing clouds aloft,
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The winter snows, the sleigh-bells—the broken ice in
the river, passing along, up or down, with the
flood-tide or ebb-tide;
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The mechanics of the city, the masters, well-formed,
beautiful-faced, looking you straight in the eyes;
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Trottoirs thronged—vehicles—Broadway—the wo-
men—the shops and shows,
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The parades, processions, bugles playing, flags flying,
drums beating;
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A million people—manners free and superb—open
voices—hospitality—the most courageous and
friendly young men;
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The free city! no slaves! no owners of slaves! |
The beautiful city! the city of hurried and sparkling
waters! the city of spires and masts!
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The city nested in bays! my city! |
The city of such women, I am mad to be with them!
I will return after death to be with them!
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The city of such young men, I swear I cannot live
happy, without I often go talk, walk, eat, drink,
sleep, with them!
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