Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

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¹ OVER the carnage rose prophetic a voice,

Be not dishearten'd—Affection shall solve the problems
of Freedom yet;

Those who love each other shall become invincible—
they shall yet make Columbia victorious.

² Sons of the Mother of All! you shall yet be victo-
rious!

You shall yet laugh to scorn the attacks of all the re-
mainder of the earth.

³ No danger shall balk Columbia's lovers;

If need be, a thousand shall sternly immolate them-
selves for one.

⁴ One from Massachusetts shall be a Missourian's com-
rade;

From Maine and from hot Carolina, and another, an
Oregonese, shall be friends triune,

More precious to each other than all the riches of the
earth.

⁵ To Michigan, Florida, perfumes shall tenderly come;

Not the perfumes of flowers, but sweeter, and wafted
beyond death.

⁶ It shall be customary in the houses and streets to see
manly affection;

The most dauntless and rude shall touch face to face
lightly;

The dependence of Liberty shall be lovers,

The continuance of Equality shall be comrades.

⁷ These shall tie you and band you stronger than hoops
of iron;

I, extatic, O partners! O lands! with the love of lovers
tie you.

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⁸ (Were you looking to be held together by the lawyers?

Or by an agreement on a paper? or by arms?

—Nay—nor the world, nor any living thing, will so
cohere.)

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