Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman

Leaves of Grass (1867)

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SO LONG!

1

¹ To conclude—I announce what comes after me,

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

² I remember I said, before my leaves sprang at all,

I would raise my voice jocund and strong, with re-
ference to consummations.

³ When America does what was promis'd,

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,

When breeds of the most perfect mothers denote
America,

Then to me my due fruition.

⁴ I have press'd through in my own right,

I have offer'd my style to every one—I have journey'd
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.

2

⁵ I announce natural persons to arise,

I announce justice triumphant,

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I announce uncompromising liberty and equality,

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

⁶ 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.

⁷ I announce adhesiveness—I say it shall be limitless,
unloosen'd,

I say you shall yet find the friend you was looking
for.

⁸ I announce a man or woman coming—perhaps you
are the one,( So long! )

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

⁹ I announce a life that shall be copious, vehement,
spiritual, bold,

And I announce an old age that shall lightly and joy-
fully meet its translation.

3

¹⁰ O thicker and faster! ( So long! )

O crowding too close upon me;

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

It appears to me I am dying.

¹¹ Hasten throat, and sound your last!

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

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¹² Screaming electric, the atmosphere using,

At random glancing, each as a notice absorbing,

Swiftly on, but a little while alighting,

Curious envelop'd 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,

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 really undying,)

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

¹³ What is there more, that I lag and pause, and
crouch extended with unshut mouth?

Is there a single final farewell?

4

¹⁴ My songs cease—I abandon them,

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

¹⁵ Camerado! 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

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¹⁶ 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.

¹⁷ Enough, O deed impromptu and secret!

Enough, O gliding present! Enough, O summ'd-up
past!

5

¹⁸ 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,
—(long enough have I dallied with Life,)

The unknown sphere, more real than I dream'd, 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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