Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass (1860)

contents | previous | next

SAYS.

1.

I SAY whatever tastes sweet to the most perfect per-
son, that is finally right.

2.

I SAY nourish a great intellect, a great brain;

If I have said anything to the contrary, I hereby
retract it.

3.

I SAY man shall not hold property in man;

I say the least developed person on earth is just as
         important and sacred to himself or herself, as
         the most developed person is to himself or her-
         self.

4.

I SAY where liberty draws not the blood out of
slavery, there slavery draws the blood out of
liberty,

I say the word of the good old cause in These States,
and resound it hence over the world.

View Page 419

5.

I SAY the human shape or face is so great, it must
never be made ridiculous;

I say for ornaments nothing outre can be allowed,

And that anything is most beautiful without orna-
ment,

And that exaggerations will be sternly revenged in
your own physiology, and in other persons' phys-
iology also;

And I say that clean-shaped children can be jetted
         and conceived only where natural forms prevail
         in public, and the human face and form are
         never caricatured;

And I say that genius need never more be turned to
romances,

(For facts properly told, how mean appear all
romances.)

6.

I SAY the word of lands fearing nothing—I will
have no other land;

I say discuss all and expose all—I am for every
topic openly;

I say there can be no salvation for These States with-
out innovators—without free tongues, and ears
willing to hear the tongues;

And I announce as a glory of These States, that
         they respectfully listen to propositions, reforms,
         fresh views and doctrines, from successions of
         men and women,

Each age with its own growth.

View Page 420

7.

I HAVE said many times that materials and the Soul
are great, and that all depends on physique;

Now I reverse what I said, and affirm that all depends
on the æsthetic or intellectual,

And that criticism is great—and that refinement is
greatest of all;

And I affirm now that the mind governs—and that
all depends on the mind.

8.

WITH one man or woman—(no matter which one—
I even pick out the lowest,)

With him or her I now illustrate the whole law;

I say that every right, in politics or what-not, shall be
eligible to that one man or woman, on the same
terms as any.

contents | previous | next