Long I thought that knowledge alone would suffice me — O if I could but obtain knowledge!

Then my lands engrossed me — Lands of the prairies, Ohio's land, the southern savannas, engrossed me — For them I would live — I would be their orator;

Then I met the examples of old and new heroes — I heard of warriors, sailors, and all dauntless persons — And it seemed to me that I too had it in me to be as dauntless as any — and would be so;

And then, to enclose all, it came to me to strike up the songs of the New World — And then I believed my life must be spent in singing;

But now take notice, land of the prairies, land of the south savannas, Ohio's land,

Take notice, you Kanuck woods — and you Lake Huron — and all that with you roll toward Niagara — and you Niagara also,

And you, Californian mountains — That you each and all find somebody else to be your singer of songs,

For I can be your singer of songs no longer — One who loves me is jealous of me, and withdraws me from all but love,

With the rest I dispense — I sever from what I thought would suffice me, for it does not — it is now empty and tasteless to me,

I heed knowledge, and the grandeur of The States, and the example of heroes, no more,