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Leaves of Grass (1891-92)
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View Page 247
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View Page 247
OVER THE CARNAGE ROSE PROPHETIC A VOICE.
| OVER the carnage rose prophetic a voice, |
|
Be not dishearten'd, affection shall solve the problems of freedom
yet, |
| Those who love each other shall become invincible, |
| They shall yet make Columbia victorious. |
| Sons of the Mother of All, you shall yet be victorious, |
|
You shall yet laugh to scorn the attacks of all the remainder of
the earth. |
| No danger shall balk Columbia's lovers, |
| If need be a thousand shall sternly immolate themselves for one. |
| One from Massachusetts shall be a Missourian's comrade, |
|
From Maine and from hot Carolina, and another an Oregonese,
shall be friends triune, |
| More precious to each other than all the riches of the earth. |
| To Michigan, Florida perfumes shall tenderly come, |
| Not the perfumes of flowers, but sweeter, and wafted beyond death. |
|
It shall be customary in the houses and streets to see manly
affection, |
| The most dauntless and rude shall touch face to face lightly, |
| The dependence of Liberty shall be lovers, |
| The continuance of Equality shall be comrades. |
| These shall tie you and band you stronger than hoops of iron, |
| I, ecstatic, O partners! O lands! with the love of lovers tie you. |
| (Were you looking to be held together by lawyers? |
| Or by an agreement on a paper? or by arms? |
| Nay, nor the world, nor any living thing, will so cohere.) |