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Leaves of Grass (1891-92)
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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.
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When America does what was promis'd, |
When through these States walk a hundred millions of superb
persons,
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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,
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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;
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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.
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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,
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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.
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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! )
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I announce the great individual, fluid as Nature, chaste, affection-
ate, compassionate, fully arm'd.
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I announce a life that shall be copious, vehement, spiritual, bold, |
I announce an end that shall lightly and joyfully meet its transla-
tion.
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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! )
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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.
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Screaming electric, the atmosphere using, |
At random glancing, each as I notice absorbing, |
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,
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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,
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To women certain whispers of myself bequeathing, their affection
me more clearly explaining,
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To young men my problems offering—no dallier I—I the mus
cle of their brains trying,
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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,)
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The best of me then when no longer visible, for toward that I have
been incessantly preparing.
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What is there more, that I lag and pause and crouch extended
with unshut mouth?
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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.
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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,
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I feel immerged from head to foot, |
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,
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An unknown sphere more real than I dream'd, more direct, darts
awakening rays about me, So long!
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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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