Calamus 16

Part of the cluster CALAMUS.

16.

¹WHO is now reading this? ²May-be one is now reading this who knows some
wrong-doing of my past life, Or may-be a stranger is reading this who has secretly
loved me, Or may-be one who meets all my grand assumptions
and egotisms with derision, Or may-be one who is puzzled at me. 31 [ begin page 362 ]

ppp.01500.370.jpg ³As if I were not puzzled at myself! Or as if I never deride myself! (O conscience-struck!
O self-convicted!) Or as if I do not secretly love strangers! (O tenderly,
a long time, and never avow it;) Or as if I did not see, perfectly well, interior in
myself, the stuff of wrong-doing, Or as if it could cease transpiring from me until it
must cease.

Part of the cluster CALAMUS.