The Walt Whitman Archive
Published Works
Books by Whitman
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12.
| ARE you the new person drawn toward me, and asking something significant from me? |
| To begin with, take warning—I am probably far different from what you suppose; |
| Do you suppose you will find in me your ideal? |
| Do you think it so easy to have me become your lover? |
| Do you think the friendship of me would be unalloyed satisfaction? |
| Do you suppose I am trusty and faithful? |
| Do you see no further than this façade—this smooth and tolerant manner of me? |
| Do you suppose yourself advancing on real ground toward a real heroic man? |
| Have you no thought, O dreamer, that it may be all maya, illusion? O the next step may precipitate you! |
View Page 359
| O let some past deceived one hiss in your ears, how many have prest on the same as you are pressing now, |
| How many have fondly supposed what you are sup- posing now—only to be disappointed. |