< Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu
There was a problem when proofreading this page.
176
Leaves of Grass.
:And that they could no-how have been better than they were,
And that to-day is what it should and that America is,
And that to-day and America could no-how be better than they are.

6. In the name of These States, and in your and my name, the Past,

And in the name of These States, and in your and my name, the Present time.

7. I know that the past was great, and the future will be great,

And I know that both curiously conjoint in the present time,
(For the sake of him I typify—for the common average man's sake—your sake, if you are he;)
And that where I am, or you are, this present day, there is the centre of all days, all races,
And there is the meaning, to us, of all that has ever come of races and days, or ever will come.


1. Splendor of falling day, floating and filling me,

Hour prophetic—hour resuming the past,
Inflating my throat—you, divine average!
You, Earth and Life, till the last ray gleams, I sing.
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.