Leaves of Grass (1856)
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| WHO has gone farthest? For I swear I will go
farther; |
| And who has been just? For I would be the
most just person of the earth; |
| And who most cautious? For I would be more
cautious; |
| And who has been happiest? O I think it is I!
I think no one was ever happier than I; |
| And who has lavished all? For I lavish con-
stantly the best I have; |
| And who has been firmest? For I would be
firmer; |
| And who proudest? For I think I have reason to
be the proudest son alive—for I am the son of the brawny and tall-topt city; |
| And who has been bold and true? For I would
be the boldest and truest being of the uni- verse; |
| And who benevolent? For I would show more
benevolence than all the rest; |
)
|
| And who has projected beautiful words through
the longest time? By God! I will outvie him! I will say such words, they shall stretch through longer time! |
| And who has received the love of the most
friends? For I know what it is to receive the passionate love of many friends; |
| And to whom has been given the sweetest from
women, and paid them in kind? For I will take the like sweets, and pay them in kind; |
| And who possesses a perfect and enamored body?
For I do not believe any one possesses a more perfect or enamored body than mine; |
| And who thinks the amplest thoughts? For I
will surround those thoughts; |
| And who has made hymns fit for the earth? For
I am mad with devouring ecstasy to make joyous hymns for the whole earth! |