< Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu
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177
Chants Democratic.
2. Open mouth of my Soul, uttering gladness,
- Eyes of my Soul, seeing perfection,
- Natural life of me, faithfully praising things,
- Corroborating forever the triumph of things.
3. Illustrious every one !
- Illustrious what we name space—sphere of unnumbered spirits,
- Illustrious the mystery of motion, in all beings, even the tiniest insect,
- Illustrious the attribute of speech—the senses—the body,
- Illustrious the passing light! Illustrious the pale reflection on the moon in the western sky!
- Illustrious whatever I see, or hear, or touch, to the last.
4. Good in all,
- In the satisfaction and aplomb of animals,
- In the annual return of the seasons,
- In the hilarity of youth,
- In the strength and flush of manhood,
- In the grandeur and exquisiteness of old age,
- In the superb vistas of Death.
5. Wonderful to depart!
- Wonderful to be here!
- The heart, to jet the all-alike and innocent blood,
- To breathe the air, how delicious!
- To speak! to walk! to seize something by the hand!
- To prepare for sleep, for bed—to look on my rose-colored flesh,
- To be conscious of my body, so amorous, so large,
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