One's-self I sing, a simple separate person, Yet utter the word Democratic, the word En. Masse.
Of physiology from top to toe I sing, Not physiognomy alone nor brain alone is worthy for the Muse, I say the Form complete is worthier far, The Female equally with the Male I sing.
Of Life immense in passion, pulse, and power, Cheerful, for freest action form'd under the laws divine, The Modern Man I sing.
But Susan is a stranger yet - The ones who cite her most Have never scaled her Haunted House Nor compromise her Ghost - To pity those that know her not Is helped by the regret That those who know her know her less The nearer her they get.
To pity those that know her not Is helped by the regret That those who know her know her less The nearer her they get - How adequate the Human Heart To it's emergency - Intrenchments stimulate a friend And stem an enemy.
What mystery pervades a well! That water lives so far - A neighbor from another world Residing in a jar Whose limit none have ever seen, But just his lid of glass - Like looking every time you please In an abyss's face!
The grass does not appear afraid, I often wonder he Can stand so close and look so bold At what is awe to me.
Related somehow they may be, The sedge stands next the sea Where he is floorless And does no timidity betray -
But nature is a stranger yet; The ones that cite her most Have never passed her haunted house, Nor simplified her ghost.
To pity those that know her not Is helped by the regret That those who know her, know her less The nearer her they get.
Perhaps they do not go so far As we who stay, suppose - Perhaps come closer, for the lapse Of their corporeal clothes - It may be, know so certainly How short we have to fear That Comprehension antedates And estimates us there.
I have no Life but this - To lead it here - Nor any Death - but lest Dispelled from there - Nor tie to Earths to come - Nor Action new - Except through this Extent - The Realm of you.
It sounded as if the streets were running And then - the streets stood still - Eclipse - was all we could see at the Window And Awe - was all we could feel. By and by - the boldest stole out of his Covert To see if Time was there - Nature was in an Opal Apron - Mixing fresher Air.
She laid her docile Crescent down And this confiding Stone Still states to Dates that have forgot The News that she is gone. So constant to it's Stolid trust The Shaft that never knew - It shames the Constancy that fled Before it's Emblem flew.
After all Birds have been investigated And laid aside Nature imparts the little Blue Bird - Assured Her conscientious voice Will soar unmoved Above ostensible vicissitude - First at the March Competing with the Wind - Her zealous Note Delights it to ascend - Last at the Scene When Summer swerves away - Fortitude - flanked with Melody.