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Leaves of Grass.

24. Great is Wickedness—I find I often admire it, just as much as I admire goodness,

Do you call that a paradox? It certainly is a paradox.

25. The eternal equilibrium of things is great, and the eternal overthrow of things is great,

And there is another paradox.

26. Great is Life, real and mystical, wherever and whoever,

Great is Death—sure as Life holds all parts together,

Death holds all parts together,

Death has just as much purport as Life has,

Do you enjoy what Life confers? you shall enjoy what Death confers,

I do not understand the realities of Death, but I know they are great,

I do not understand the least reality of Life—how then can I understand the realities of Death?

3.

1. A young man came to me with a message from his brother,

How should the young man know the whether and when of his brother?

Tell him to send me the signs.

2. And I stood before the young man face to face, and took his right hand in my left hand, and his left hand in my right hand,

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