< Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu
This page needs to be proofread.
353
Calamus.

The skies of day and night — colors, densities, forms — May-be these are, (as doubtless they are,) only apparitions, and the real something has yet to be known,

(How often they dart out of themselves, as if to confound me and mock me !

How often I think neither I know, nor any man knows, aught of them ;)

May-be they only seem to me what they are, (as doubtless they indeed but seem,) as from my present point of view — And might prove, (as of course they would,) naught of what they appear, or naught any how, from entirely changed points of view ;

To me, these, and the like of these, are curiously answered by my lovers, my dear friends ;

When he whom I love travels with me, or sits a long while holding me by the hand.

When the subtle air, the impalpable, the sense that words and reason hold not, surround us and pervade us.

Then I am charged with untold and untellable wisdom — I am silent — I require nothing further,

I cannot answer the question of appearances, or that of identity beyond the grave.

But I walk or sit indifferent — I am satisfied. He ahold of my hand has completely satisfied me.

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.