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Leaves of Grass (1881-82)
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OVER THE CARNAGE ROSE PROPHETIC A VOICE.
OVER the carnage rose prophetic a voice, |
Be not dishearten'd, affection shall solve the problems of freedom
yet,
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Those who love each other shall become invincible, |
They shall yet make Columbia victorious. |
Sons of the Mother of All, you shall yet be victorious, |
You shall yet laugh to scorn the attacks of all the remainder of
the earth.
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No danger shall balk Columbia's lovers, |
If need be a thousand shall sternly immolate themselves for one. |
One from Massachusetts shall be a Missourian's comrade, |
From Maine and from hot Carolina, and another an Oregonese,
shall be friends triune,
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More precious to each other than all the riches of the earth. |
To Michigan, Florida perfumes shall tenderly come, |
Not the perfumes of flowers, but sweeter, and wafted beyond death. |
It shall be customary in the houses and streets to see manly
affection,
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The most dauntless and rude shall touch face to face lightly, |
The dependence of Liberty shall be lovers, |
The continuance of Equality shall be comrades. |
These shall tie you and band you stronger than hoops of
iron, |
I, ecstatic, O partners! O lands! with the love of lovers tie you. |
(Were you looking to be held together by lawyers? |
Or by an agreement on a paper? or by arms? |
Nay, nor the world, nor any living thing, will so cohere.) |
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