So Long!

SO LONG!

1

¹ To conclude—I announce what comes after me, I announce mightier offspring, orators, days, and
then depart. ²I remember I said, before my leaves sprang at all, I would raise my voice jocund and strong, with re-
ference to consummations. ³When 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. ⁴I 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

⁵I announce natural persons to arise, I announce justice triumphant, [ begin page 34c ]

ppp.00473.468.jpg I announce uncompromising liberty and equality, I announce the justification of candor, and the justi-
fication of pride. ⁶I 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. ⁷I announce adhesiveness—I say it shall be limitless,
unloosen'd, I say you shall yet find the friend you was looking
for. ⁸I 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. ⁹I 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

¹⁰O 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. ¹¹Hasten throat, and sound your last! Salute me—salute the days once more. Peal the old
cry once more. [ begin page 35c ]

ppp.00473.469.jpg ¹²Screaming 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. ¹³What is there more, that I lag and pause, and
crouch extended with unshut mouth? Is there a single final farewell?

4

¹⁴My songs cease—I abandon them, From behind the screen where I hid, I advance per-
sonally, solely to you. ¹⁵Camerado! 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 [ begin page 36c ]

ppp.00473.470.jpg ¹⁶O 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. ¹⁷Enough, O deed impromptu and secret! Enough, O gliding present! Enough, O summ'd-up
past!

5

¹⁸Dear 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.