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the wounded groaning in agony, The hiss and crackle of flames, the blacken'd ruins, the embers of cities

Lo soul, the retrospect brought forward, The old, most populous, wealthiest of earth's lands, The streams

from east to west as they lie unclothed, The Asiatic and African are hand in hand, the European and American

stands; Let judges and criminals be transposed—let the prison-keepers be put in prison—let those that were

To think that the sun rose in the east—that men and women were flexible, real, alive—that every thing

To think the thought of death merged in the thought of materials, To think of all these wonders of city

To think how much pleasure there is, Do you enjoy yourself in the city? or engaged in business?

7 It is not to diffuse you that you were born of your mother and father, it is to identify you, It is

The threads that were spun are gather'd, the weft crosses the warp, the pattern is systematic.

touching, including God, including Saviour and Satan, Ethereal, pervading all, (for without me what were

what were God?)

burial-places to find him, And I found that every place was a burial-place; The houses full of life were

streets, the shipping, the places of amusement, the Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, the Mannahatta, were

now I am willing to disregard burial-places and dispense with them, And if the memorials of the dead were

I saw the rich ladies in full dress at the soiree, I heard what the singers were singing so long, Heard

noises of the night-owl and the wild-cat, and the whirr of the rattlesnake, The mocking-bird, the American

I WAS asking for something specific and perfect for my city, Whereupon lo!

there is in a name, a word, liquid, sane, unruly, musical, self-sufficient, I see that the word of my city

broken ice in the river, passing along up or down with the flood-tide or ebb-tide, The mechanics of the city

people—manners free and superb—open voices— hospitality—the most courageous and friendly young men, City

city of spires and masts! City nested in bays! my city!

You flagged walks of the cities! you strong curbs at the edges! You ferries!

I think heroic deeds were all conceived in the open air, I think I could stop here myself, and do miracles

Now if a thousand perfect men were to appear, it would not amaze me, Now if a thousand beautiful forms

different countries, habitues of far- distant dwellings, Trusters of men and women, observers of cities

the fruits of or- chards orchards and flowers of gardens, To take to your use out of the compact cities

Were you thinking that those were the words—those upright lines? those curves, angles, dots?

Were you thinking that those were the words— those delicious sounds out of your friends' mouths?

them—my qualities inter- penetrate interpenetrate with theirs—my name is nothing to them, Though it were

echo the tones of Souls, and the phrases of Souls; If they did not echo the phrases of Souls, what were

If they had not reference to you in especial, what were they then?

Were you looking to be held together by the lawyers? By an agreement on a paper? Or by arms? Away!

America, and along the shores of the great lakes, and all over the prairies, I will make inseparable cities

sleepless, deep in the night, when I go forth, speeding swiftly the country roads, or through the city

the sick, sick dread lest the one he loved might secretly be indifferent to him, Whose happiest days were

was not a happy night for me that fol- lowed followed ; And else, when I caroused, or when my plans were

slow drops, Candid, from me falling—drip, bleeding drops, From wounds made to free you whence you were

all my grand assumptions and egotisms with derision, Or may-be one who is puzzled at me. 31 As if I were

burial- places, to find him, And I found that every place was a burial-place, The houses full of life were

shipping, the places of amusement, the Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, the Manna- hatta Mannahatta , were

I am willing to disregard burial-places, and dispense with them, And if the memorials of the dead were

CITY of my walks and joys!

City whom that I have lived and sung there will one day make you illustrious, Not the pageants of you—not

the crossing of the street, or on the ship's deck, kiss him in return; We observe that salute of American

we flit by each other, fluid, affec- tionate affectionate , chaste, matured, You grew up with me, were

Only I will establish in the Mannahatta, and in every city of These States, inland and seaboard, And

the sea-beach dancing, With birds singing—With fishes swimming—With trees branching and leafing, Cities

Through youth, and through middle and old age, how unfaltering, how affectionate and faithful they were

and for Oregon: Sojourning east a while longer, soon I travel to you, to remain, to teach robust American

Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me?

I DREAMED in a dream, I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the whole of the rest of the earth, I

dreamed that was the new City of Friends, Nothing was greater there than the quality of robust love—it

led the rest, It was seen every hour in the actions of the men of that city, And in all their looks

invisible; Now it is you, compact, visible, realizing my poems, seeking me, Fancying how happy you were

, if I could be with you, and become your lover; Be it as if I were with you.

Looked toward the lower bay to notice the arriving ships, Saw their approach, saw aboard those that were

These, and all else, were to me the same as they are to you, I project myself a moment to tell you—also

I loved well those cities, I loved well the stately and rapid river, The men and women I saw were all

I had done seemed to me blank and sus- picious suspicious , My great thoughts, as I supposed them, were

as much of you —I laid in my stores in advance, I considered long and seriously of you before you were

noises of the night-owl and the wild-cat, and the whirr of the rattlesnake; The mocking-bird, the American

holds at the high, with bosom broad outswelling, All throbs, dilates—the farms, woods, streets of cities—workmen

[Impromptu on Buffalo City's monument to, and re-burial of the old Iroquois orator, October 9, 1884.]

not, the same:) Wherever sails a ship, or house is built on land, or day or night, Through teeming cities

—unlimn'd they disappear; To-day gives place, and fades—the cities, farms, factories fade; A muffled

I descend to lave the drouths, atomies, dust-layers of the globe, And all that in them without me were

Have you learn'd lessons only of those who admired you, and were tender with you, and stood aside for

[Voltaire closed a famous argument by claiming that a ship of war and the grand opera were proofs enough

Indifferently, 'mid public, private haunts, in solitude, Behind the mountain and the wood, Companion of the city's

for I think I have reason to be the proudest son alive—for I am the son of the brawny and tall-topt city

sight of products, they shall enjoy the sight of the beef, lumber, bread-stuffs, of Chicago the great city

all to the front, Invisibly with thee walking with kings with even pace the round world's promenade, Were

world, politics, produce, The announcements of recognized things, science, The approved growth of cities

But I too announce solid things, Science, ships, politics, cities, factories, are not nothing, Like a

European kings removed, I see this day the People beginning their landmarks, (all others give way;) Never were

what life, what joy and pride, With all the perils were yours.)

How the great cities appear—how the Democratic masses, turbu- lent turbulent , wilful, as I love them

sloping down there where the fresh free giver the mother, the Mississippi flows, Of mighty inland cities

of the Western Sea, As I roam'd the streets of inland Chicago, whatever streets I have roam'd, Or cities

respond within their breasts, their brains, the sad reverberations,) The passionate toll and clang—city

to city, joining, sounding, passing, Those heart-beats of a Nation in the night.

announce adhesiveness, I say it shall be limitless, unloosen'd, I say you shall yet find the friend you were

My city's fit and noble name resumed, Choice aboriginal name, with marvellous beauty, meaning, A rocky