Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass (1867)

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EXCELSIOR.

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 lavish'd all? For I lavish constantly 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 universe;

And who benevolent? For I would show more be-
nevolence 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 receiv'd 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 enamour'd body?
For I do not believe any one possesses a more
perfect or enamour'd 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 extacy to make joyous
hymns for the whole earth!

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