LO! THE unbounded sea! On its breast a Ship starting, spreading all her sails--an ample Ship, carrying even her moonsails; The pennant is flying aloft, as she speeds, she speeds so stately-- below, emulous waves press forward, They surround the Ship, with shining curving motions, and foam.
BEGINNING my studies, the first step pleas'd me so much, The mere fact, consciousness--these forms--the power of motion, The least insect or animal--the senses--eyesight--love; The first step, I say, aw'd me and pleas'd me so much, I have hardly gone, and hardly wish'd to go, any farther, But stop and loiter all the time, to sing it in extatic songs.
FOR him I sing, I raise the Present on the Past, (As some perennial tree, out of its roots, the present on the past:) With time and space I him dilate--and fuse the immortal laws, To make himself, by them, the law unto himself.
I HEARD that you ask'd for something to prove this puzzle, the New World, And to define America, her athletic Democracy; Therefore I send you my poems, that you behold in them what you wanted.
I would live in your love as the sea-grasses live in the sea, Borne up by each wave as it passes, drawn down by each wave that recedes; I would empty my soul of the dreams that have gathered in me, I would beat with your heart as it beats, I would follow your soul as it leads.
They came to tell your faults to me, They named them over one by one; I laughed aloud when they were done, I knew them all so well before, -- Oh, they were blind, too blind to see Your faults had made me love you more.
What is the face, the fairest face, till Care, Till Care the graver - Care with cunning hand, Etches content thereon and makes it fair, Or constancy, and love, and makes it grand?
So live, so love, so use that fragile hour, That when the dark hand of the shining power Shall one from other, wife or husband, take, The poor survivor may not weep and wake.