Poem of the Heart of the Son of Manhattan Island.

17 — Poem of The Heart of The Son of Manhattan Island.

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 lavished all? For I lavish con-
stantly 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 uni-
verse; And who benevolent? For I would show more
benevolence than all the rest; [ begin page 256 ]

ppp.00237.264.jpg 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 received 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 enamored body?
For I do not believe any one possesses a
more perfect or enamored 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 ecstasy to make
joyous hymns for the whole earth!