Leaves of Grass (1871-72)

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¹ AND now, gentlemen,

A word I give to remain in your memories and minds,

As base, and finale too, for all metaphysics.

² (So, to the students, the old professor,

At the close of his crowded course.)

³ Having studied the new and antique, the Greek and
Germanic systems,

Kant having studied and stated—Fichte and Schelling
and Hegel,

Stated the lore of Plato—and Socrates, greater than
Plato,

And greater than Socrates sought and stated—Christ
divine having studied long,

I see reminiscent to-day those Greek and Germanic
systems,

See the philosophies all—Christian churches and tenets
see,

Yet underneath Socrates clearly see—and underneath
Christ the divine I see,

The dear love of man for his comrade—the attraction
of friend to friend,

Of the well-married husband and wife—of children and
parents,

Of city for city, and land for land.

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