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Leaves of Grass (1867)
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EXCELSIOR.
| WHO has gone farthest? For I swear I will go farther; |
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And who has been just? For I would be the most just
person of the earth; |
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And who most cautious? For I would be more
cautious; |
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And who has been happiest? O I think it is I! I
think no one was ever happier than I; |
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And who has lavish'd all? For I lavish constantly the
best I have; |
| And who has been firmest? For I would be firmer; |
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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; |
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And who has been bold and true? For I would be
the boldest and truest being of the universe; |
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And who benevolent? For I would show more be-
nevolence than all the rest; |
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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! |
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And who has receiv'd the love of the most friends?
For I know what it is to receive the passionate love of many friends; |
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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; |
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And who possesses a perfect and enamour'd body?
For I do not believe any one possesses a more perfect or enamour'd body than mine; |
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And who thinks the amplest thoughts? For I will
surround those thoughts; |
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And who has made hymns fit for the earth? For I
am mad with devouring extacy to make joyous hymns for the whole earth! |