|
Leaves of Grass (1871-72)
contents
| previous
| next
TO THEE, OLD CAUSE!
Thou peerless, passionate, good cause! |
Thou stern, remorseless, sweet Idea! |
Deathless throughout the ages, races, lands! |
After a strange, sad war—great war for thee, |
(I think all war through time was really fought, and
ever will be really fought, for thee;)
|
These chants for thee—the eternal march of thee. |
Thou seething principle! Thou well-kept, latent germ! |
View Page 12
|
Around the idea of thee the strange sad war revolv-
ing,
|
With all its angry and vehement play of causes, |
(With yet unknown results to come, for thrice a thou-
sand years,)
|
These recitatives for thee—my Book and the War are
one,
|
Merged in its spirit I and mine—as the contest hinged
on thee,
|
As a wheel on its axis turns, this Book, unwitting to
itself,
|
contents
| previous
| next
|
| |