Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass (1881-82)

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SO LONG!

TO conclude, I announce what comes after me.

I remember I said before my leaves sprang at all,

I would raise my voice jocund and strong with reference to con-
summations.

When America does what was promis'd,

When through these States walk a hundred millions of superb
persons,

When the rest part away for superb persons and contribute to them,

When breeds of the most perfect mothers denote America,

Then to me and mine our due fruition.

I have press'd through in my own right,

I have sung the body and the soul, war and peace have I sung,
and the songs of life and death,

And the songs of birth, and shown that there are many births.

I have offer'd my style to every one, I have journey'd with confi-
dent step;

While my pleasure is yet at the full I whisper So long!

And take the young woman's hand and the young man's hand for
the last time.

I announce natural persons to arise,

I announce justice triumphant,

I announce uncompromising liberty and equality,

I announce the justification of candor and the justification of
pride.

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I announce that the identity of these States is a single identity
only,

I announce the Union more and more compact, indissoluble,

I announce splendors and majesties to make all the previous poli-
tics of the earth insignificant.

I announce adhesiveness, I say it shall be limitless, unloosen'd,

I say you shall yet find the friend you were looking for.

I announce a man or woman coming, perhaps you are the one,
( So long! )

I announce the great individual, fluid as Nature, chaste, affection-
ate, compassionate, fully arm'd.

I announce a life that shall be copious, vehement, spiritual, bold,

I announce an end that shall lightly and joyfully meet its transla-
tion.

I announce myriads of youths, beautiful, gigantic, sweet-blooded,

I announce a race of splendid and savage old men.

O thicker and faster—( So long! )

O crowding too close upon me,

I foresee too much, it means more than I thought,

It appears to me I am dying.

Hasten throat and sound your last,

Salute me—salute the days once more. Peal the old cry once
more.

Screaming electric, the atmosphere using,

At random glancing, each as I noticeabsorbing,

Swiftly on, but a little while alighting,

Curious envelop'd messages delivering,

Sparkles hot, seed ethereal down in the dirt dropping,

Myself unknowing, my commission obeying, to question it never
daring,

To ages and ages yet the growth of the seed leaving,

To troops out of the war arising, they the tasks I have set promul-
ging,

To women certain whispers of myself bequeathing, their affection
me more clearly explaining,

To young men my problems offering—no dallier I—I the mus
cle of their brains trying,

So I pass, a little time vocal, visible, contrary,

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Afterward a melodious echo, passionately bent for, (death making
me really undying,)

The best of me then when no longer visible, for toward that I have
been incessantly preparing.

What is there more, that I lag and pause and crouch extended
with unshut mouth?

Is there a single final farewell?

My songs cease, I abandon them,

From behind the screen where I hid I advance personally solely
to you.

Camerado, this is no book,

Who touches this touches a man,

(Is it night? are we here together alone?)

It is I you hold and who holds you,

I spring from the pages into your arms—decease calls me forth.

O how your fingers drowse me,

Your breath falls around me like dew, your pulse lulls the tympans
of my ears,

I feel immerged from head to foot,

Delicious, enough.

Enough O deed impromptu and secret,

Enough O gliding present—enough O summ'd-up past.

Dear friend whoever you are take this kiss,

I give it especially to you, do not forget me,

I feel like one who has done work for the day to retire awhile,

I receive now again of my many translations, from my avataras as-
cending, while others doubtless await me,

An unknown sphere more real than I dream'd, more direct, darts
awakening rays about me, So long!

Remember my words, I may again return,

I love you, I depart from materials,

I am as one disembodied, triumphant, dead.

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