Leaves of Grass (1891-92)


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UNFOLDED OUT OF THE FOLDS.


UNFOLDED out of the folds of the woman man comes unfolded,
         and is always to come unfolded,
Unfolded only out of the superbest woman of the earth is to come
         the superbest man of the earth,
Unfolded out of the friendliest woman is to come the friendliest
         man,
Unfolded only out of the perfect body of a woman can a man be
         form'd of perfect body,
 


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View Page 303

Unfolded only out of the inimitable poems of woman can come
         the poems of man, (only thence have my poems come;)
Unfolded out of the strong and arrogant woman I love, only
         thence can appear the strong and arrogant man I love,
Unfolded by brawny embraces from the well-muscled woman I
         love, only thence come the brawny embraces of the man,
Unfolded out of the folds of the woman's brain come all the folds
         of the man's brain, duly obedient,
Unfolded out of the justice of the woman all justice is unfolded,
Unfolded out of the sympathy of the woman is all sympathy;
A man is a great thing upon the earth and through eternity, but
         every jot of the greatness of man is unfolded out of
         woman;
First the man is shaped in the woman, he can then be shaped in
         himself.
 
 
 
 
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