< Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu
This page needs to be proofread.
431
Sleep-Chasings.

It is dark here under ground — it is not evil or pain here — it is blank here, for reasons.

29. It seems to me that everything in the light and air ought to be happy,

Whoever is not in his coffin and the dark grave, let him know he has enough.

30. I see a beautiful gigantic swimmer swimming naked through the eddies of the sea,

His brown hair lies close and even to his liead — he strikes out with courageous arms — he urges himself with his legs,

I see his white body — I see his undaunted eyes,

I hate the swift-running eddies that would dash him head-foremost on the rocks.

31. What are you doing, you ruffianly red-trickled waves?

Will you kill the courageous giant ? Will you kill him in the prime of his middle age ?

32. Steady and long he struggles,

He is baffled, banged, bruised — he holds out while his strength holds out.

The slapping eddies are spotted with his blood — they bear him away — they roll him, swing him, turn him.

His beautiful body is borne in the circling eddies, it is continually bruised on rocks.

Swiftly and out of sight is borne the brave corpse.

33. I turn, but do not extricate myself.

Confused, a past-reading, another, but with darkness yet.

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