Leaves of Grass 1

1.

O HASTENING light! O free and extatic! O what I here, preparing, warble
for! O the sun of the world will ascend, dazzling, and take
his height—and you too will ascend! O so amazing and broad—up there resplendent, dart-
ing and burning! O vision prophetic, stagger'd with weight of light!
with pouring glories! O lips of my soul, already becoming powerless! O ample and grand Presidentiads! New history! new heroes! I project you! Visions of poets! only you really last! O sweep on!
sweep on! O heights too swift and dizzy yet! O purged and luminous! you threaten me more than
I can stand! (I must not venture—the ground under my feet men-
aces me—it will not support me;) O present! I return to you while yet I may!

Part of the cluster LEAVES OF GRASS.