Leaves of Grass (1871-72)


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TO THE STATES,


 

To Identify the 16th, 17th, or 18th Presidentiad.

WHY reclining, interrogating? Why myself and all
         drowsing?
What deepening twilight! scum floating atop of the
         waters!
Who are they, as bats and night-dogs, askant in the
         Capitol?
What a filthy Presidentiad! (O south, your torrid suns!
         O north, your arctic freezings!)
Are those really Congressmen? are those the great
         Judges? is that the President?
Then I will sleep awhile yet—for I see that These States
         sleep, for reasons;
(With gathering murk—with muttering thunder and
         lambent shoots, we all duly awake,
South, north, east, west, inland and seaboard, we will
         surely awake.)
 
 
 
 
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