Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass (1860)

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So long!

¹ TO conclude—I announce what comes after me,

The thought must be promulged, that all I know at
any time suffices for that time only—not subse-
quent time;

I announce greater offspring, orators, days, and then
depart.

² I remember I said to myself at the winter-close, before
my leaves sprang at all, that I would become a
candid and unloosed summer-poet,

I said I would raise my voice jocund and strong, with
reference to consummations.

³ When America does what was promised,

When each part is peopled with free people,

When there is no city on earth to lead my city, the
         city of young men, the Mannahatta city—But
         when the Mannahatta leads all the cities of the
         earth,

When there are plentiful athletic bards, inland and
seaboard,

When through These States walk a hundred millions
of superb persons,

When the rest part away for superb persons, and con-
tribute to them,

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When fathers, firm, unconstrained, open-eyed—When
breeds of the most perfect mothers denote
America,

Then to me ripeness and conclusion.

⁴ Yet not me, after all—let none be content with me,

I myself seek a man better than I am, or a woman
better than I am,

I invite defiance, and to make myself superseded,

All I have done, I would cheerfully give to be trod
under foot, if it might only be the soil of supe-
rior poems.

⁵ I have established nothing for good,

I have but established these things, till things farther
onward shall be prepared to be established,

And I am myself the preparer of things farther
onward.

⁶ I have pressed through in my own right,

I have offered my style to every one—I have jour-
neyed with confident step,

While my pleasure is yet at the full, I whisper
So long,

And take the young woman's hand, and the young
man's hand, for the last time.

⁷ Once more I enforce you to give play to yourself—
and not depend on me, or on any one but
yourself,

Once more I proclaim the whole of America for each
individual, without exception.

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⁸ As I have announced the true theory of the youth,
manhood, womanhood, of The States, I adhere
to it;

As I have announced myself on immortality, the body,
procreation, hauteur, prudence,

As I joined the stern crowd that still confronts the
President with menacing weapons—I adhere
to all,

As I have announced each age for itself, this moment
I set the example.

⁹ I demand the choicest edifices to destroy them;

Room! room! for new far-planning draughtsmen and
engineers!

Clear that rubbish from the building-spots and the
paths!

¹⁰ So long!

I announce natural persons to arise,

I announce justice triumphant,

I announce uncompromising liberty and equality,

I announce the justification of candor, and the justi-
fication of pride.

¹¹ I announce that the identity of These States is a
single identity only,

I announce the Union more and more compact,

I announce splendors and majesties to make all the
previous politics of the earth insignificant.

¹² I announce adhesiveness—I say it shall be limitless,
unloosened,

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I say you shall yet find the friend you was look-
ing for.

¹³ So long!

I announce a man or woman coming—perhaps you
are the one,

I announce a great individual, fluid as Nature, chaste,
affectionate, compassionate, fully armed.

¹⁴ So long!

I announce a life that shall be copious, vehement,
spiritual, bold,

And I announce an old age that shall lightly and
joyfully meet its translation.

¹⁵ O thicker and faster!

O crowding too close upon me!

I foresee too much—it means more than I thought,

It appears to me I am dying.

¹⁶ Now throat, sound your last!

Salute me—salute the future once more. Peal the
old cry once more.

¹⁷ Screaming electric, the atmosphere using,

At random glancing, each as I notice absorbing,

Swiftly on, but a little while alighting,

Curious enveloped messages delivering,

Sparkles hot, seed ethereal, down in the dirt dropping,

Myself unknowing, my commission obeying, to ques-
tion it never daring,

To ages, and ages yet, the growth of the seed leaving,

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To troops out of me rising—they the tasks I have set
promulging,

To women certain whispers of myself bequeathing—
their affection me more clearly explaining,

To young men my problems offering—no dallier I—
I the muscle of their brains trying,

So I pass—a little time vocal, visible, contrary,

Afterward, a melodious echo, passionately bent for—
death making me undying,

The best of me then when no longer visible—for
toward that I have been incessantly preparing.

¹⁸ What is there more, that I lag and pause, and crouch
extended with unshut mouth?

Is there a single final farewell?

¹⁹ My songs cease—I abandon them,

From behind the screen where I hid, I advance per-
sonally.

²⁰ This is no book,

Who touches this, touches a man,

(Is it night? Are we here alone?)

It is I you hold, and who holds you,

I spring from the pages into your arms—decease
calls me forth.

²¹ O how your fingers drowse me!

Your breath falls around me like dew—your pulse
lulls the tympans of my ears,

I feel immerged from head to foot,

Delicious—enough.

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²² Enough, O deed impromptu and secret!

Enough, O gliding present! Enough, O summed-up
past!

²³ Dear friend, whoever you are, here, take this kiss,

I give it especially to you—Do not forget me,

I feel like one who has done his work—I progress on,

The unknown sphere, more real than I dreamed,
more direct, darts awakening rays about me—
So long!

Remember my words—I love you—I depart from
materials,

I am as one disembodied, triumphant, dead.

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