Lo, Soul, see'st thou not, plain as the sun, NIGHT ON THE PRAIRIES. NIGHT on the prairies; First published in 1860. The supper is over-the fire on the ground burns low; I walk by myself—I stand and look at the stars, which I think now I never realized before. Now I absorb immortality and peace, I admire death, and test propositions. How plenteous! How spiritual! How resumé ! The same Old Man and Soul—the same old aspirations, and the same content. I was thinking the day most splendid, till I saw what the not-day exhibited, I was thinking this globe enough, till there sprang2 out so noiseless around me myriads of other globes. ΙΟ Now, while the great thoughts of space and eternity fill me, I will measure myself by them ; And now, touch'd with the lives of other globes, arrived as far along as those of the earth, Or waiting to arrive, or pass'd on farther than those of the earth, OI see now' that life cannot exhibit all to me-as the day cannot, I see that I am to wait for what will be exhibited by death. 1 Lines 2-3 added in 1867. 1860 for "sprang" reads "tumbled." 3 1860 for "of" reads " on." 1860 reads "O how plainly I see now," etc. ON JOURNEYS THROUGH THE STATES. First published in " Passage to India," 1870. ON journeys through the States we start, (Ay, through the world-urged by these songs, Sailing henceforth to every land—to every sea ;) We, willing learners of all, teachers of all, and lovers of all. We have watch'd the seasons dispensing themselves, and pass ing on, We have said, Why should not a man or woman do as much as the seasons, and effuse as much? We dwell a while in every city and town; We pass through Kanada, the north-east, the vast valley of the Mississippi, and the Southern States; We confer on equal terms with each of The States, We make trial of ourselves, and invite men and women to hear; ΙΟ We say to ourselves, Remember, fear not, be candid, promulge the body and the Soul; Dwell a while and pass on-Be copious, temperate, chaste, magnetic, And what you effuse may then return as the seasons return, SAVANTISM. First published in 1870 THITHER, as I look, I see each result and glory retracing itself and nestling close, always obligated; Thither hours, months, years-thither trades, compacts, establishments, even the most minute; Thither every-day life, speech, utensils, politics, persons, estates; Thither we also, I with my leaves and songs, trustful, admirant, As a father, to his father going, takes his children along with him. LOCATIONS AND TIMES. First published in 1860. LOCATIONS and times-what is it in me that meets them all, whenever and wherever, and makes me at home? Forms, colors, densities, odors-what is it in me that corresponds with them?] THOUGHT. First published in 1860 as part of "Thought 4." OF Equality-As if it harm'd me, giving others the same chances and rights as myself-As if it were not indispensable to my own rights that others possess the same. OFFERINGS. First published in 1860. A THOUSAND perfect men and women appear, Around each gathers a cluster of friends, and gay children and youths, with offerings. TESTS. First published in 1860. ALL submit to them, where they sit, inner, secure, unapproachable to analysis, in the Soul; ; Not traditions—not the outer authorities are the judges-they are the judges of outer authorities, and of all traditions They corroborate as they go, only whatever corroborates themselves, and touches themselves; For all that, they have it forever in themselves to corroborate far and near, without one exception. 1860 adds "What is the relation between me and them?'' THE TORCH. First published in "Drum-Taps," 1865. ON my northwest coast in the midst of the night, a fishermen's group stands watching; Out on the lake, that expands before them, others are spearing salmon ; The canoe, a dim shadowy thing, moves across the black water, Bearing a Torch a-blaze at the prow. GODS. First published in "Passage to India,” 1870. I THOUGHT of the Infinite--the All! Be thou my God. 2 Lover Divine, and Perfect Comrade! Waiting, content, invisible yet, but certain, Thou thou, the Ideal Man! 3 Fair, able, beautiful, content, and loving, 4 O Death--(for Life has served its turn ;) Be thou my God. 5 Aught, aught, of mightiest, best, I see, conceive, or know, 6 Or thee, Old Cause, when'er advancing; ΙΟ 20 7 Or Time and Space! Or shape of Earth, divine and wondrous ! Or shape in I myself-or some fair shape, I, viewing, worship, Or lustrous orb of Sun, or star by night : Be ye my Gods. TO ONE SHORTLY TO DIE. First published in 1860. I FROM all the rest I single out you, having a message for you: You are to die-Let others tell you what they please, I cannot prevaricate, I am exact and merciless, but I love you-There is no escape for you. Softly I lay my right hand upon you—you just feel it, I do not argue-I bend my head close, and half envelope it, I sit quietly by-I remain faithful, I am more than nurse, more than parent or neighbor, I absolve you from all except yourself, spiritual, bodily-that is eternal-you yourself will surely escape,' 1 The corpse you will leave will be but excrementitious. 2 10 The sun bursts through in unlooked-for directions! I exclude others from you-there is nothing to be commiserated, 1."you yourself will surely escape" added in " Passage to India,” 1870 |