1. As nearing departure,

As the time draws nigh, glooming from you,

A cloud — a dread beyond, of I know not what, darkens me.

2. I shall go forth,

I shall traverse The States — but I cannot tell whither or how long;

Perhaps soon, some day or night while I am singing, my voice will suddenly cease.

3. O Soul!

Then all may arrive to but this;

The glances of my eyes, that swept the daylight.

The unspeakable love I interchanged with women.

My joys in the open air — my walks through the Mannahatta.

The continual good will I have met — the curious attachment of young men to me,

My reflections alone — the absorption into me from the landscape, stars, animals, thunder, ram, and snow, in my wanderings alone,

The words of my mouth, rude, ignorant, arrogant — my many faults and derelictions,

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