We have circled and circled till we have arrived home again— we two have; We have voided all but freedom, and all but our own joy. OUT OF THE ROLLING OCEAN, THE CROWD. First published in "Drum Taps," 1865. I Out of the rolling ocean, the crowd, came a drop gently to me, Whispering, I love you, before long I die, I have travel d a long way, merely to look on you, to touch you, For I could not die till I once look'd on you, For I fear'd I might afterward lose you. 2 (Now we have met, we have look'd, we are safe; Return in peace to the ocean, my love; I too am part of that ocean, my love-we are not so much sep arated; Behold the great rondure—the cohesion of all, how perfect! ΙΟ As for an hour, carrying us diverse-yet cannot carry us diverse for ever; Be not impatient-a little space-Know you, I salute the air, the ocean and the land, Every day, at sundown, for your dear sake, my love.) NATIVE MOMENTS. NATIVE moments! when you come upon me—Ah you are here now! Give me now libidinous joys only! Give me the drench of my passions! Give me life coarse and rank! To-day, I go consort with nature's darlings-to-night too; I am for those who believe in loose delights-I share the mid night orgies of young men ; I dance with the dancers. and drink with the drinkers; The echoes ring with our indecent calls; I take for my love some prostitute-I pick out some low person for my dearest friend, He shall be lawless, rude, illiterate—he shall be one condemn'd by others for deeds done; I will play a part no longer-Why should I exile myself from my companions? O you shunn'd persons! I at least do not shun you, ΙΟ ONCE I PASS'D THROUGH A POPULOUS CITY. ONCE I pass'd through a populous city, imprinting my brain, for future use, with its shows, architecture, customs, and traditions ; Yet now, of all that city, I remember only a woman I casually met there, who detain'd me for love of me; Day by day and night by night we were together,-All else has long been forgotten by me; I remember, I say, only that woman who passionately clung to me; Again we wander- we love-we separate again; Again she holds me by the hand-I must not go ! I see her close beside me, with silent lips, sad and tremulous. ་ FACING WEST FROM CALIFORNIA'S SHORES. First published in 1860. FACING West, from California's shores,1 Inquiring, tireless, seeking what is yet unfound,' I, a child, very old, over waves, towards the house of maternity, the land of migrations, look afar, Look off the shores of my Western Sea3-the circle almost circled; For, starting westward from Hindustan, from the vales of Kash 2 1860 reads "seeking that yet unfound." 3 1860 reads "having arrived at last where I am-the circle," etc. From Asia-from the north-from the God, the sage, and the hero, From the south-from the flowery peninsulas, and the spice islands; Long having wander'd since-round the earth having wander'd,' AGES AND AGES, RETURNING AT INTERVALS. First published in 1860, AGES and ages, returning at intervals, Undestroy'd, wandering immortal, Lusty, phallic, with the potent original loins, perfectly sweet, Į, chanter of Adamic songs, ΙΟ Through the new garden, the West, the great cities calling, Deliriate, thus prelude what is generated, offering these, offering myself, Bathing myself, bathing my songs in Sex, Offspring of my loins. O HYMEN ! O HYMENEE! O HYMEN ! O hymenee ! First published in 1860. Why do you tantalize me thus ? O why sting me for a swift moment only? Why can you not continue? O why do you now cease? Is it because, if you continued beyond the swift moment, you would soon certainly kill me? AS ADAM, EARLY IN THE MORNING. First published in 1860. As Adam, early in the morning, Walking forth from the bower, refresh'd with sleep; Touch me-touch the palm of your hand to my Body as I pass; Be not afraid of my Body. 1 Line 8. Added in 1867. 2 1860 reads "Now I face the old home again-looking over to it joyous, as after long travel, growth, and sleep." "As Adam" added in 1867. I HEARD YOU, SOLEMN-SWEET PIPES OF THE ORGAN. First published in "When Lilacs," etc., 1855-56. I HEARD you, solemn-sweet pipes of the organ, as last Sunday morn I pass'd the church; Winds of autumn!-as I walk'd the woods at dusk, I heard your long-stretch'd sighs, up above, so mournful; I heard the perfect Italian tenor, singing at the opera—I heard the soprano in the midst of the quartet singing; Heart of my love!-you too I heard, murmuring low, through one of the wrists around my head; Heard the pulse of you, when all was still, ringing little bells last night under my ear. I AM HE THAT ACHES WITH LOVE. First published in 1860. I AM he that aches with amorous' love; Does the earth gravitate? Does not all matter, aching, attract all matter? So the Body of me, to all I meet, or know.' TO HIM THAT WAS CRUCIFIED. First published in 1860. My spirit to yours, dear brother; Do not mind because many, sounding your name, do not under stand you; I do not sound your name, but I understand you, (there are others also ;) I specify you with joy, O my comrade, to salute you, and to salute those who are with you, before and since-and those to come also, That we all labor together, transmitting the same charge and succession ; We few, equals, indifferent of lands, indifferent of times; ologies, Compassionaters, perceivers, rapport of men, 1 "amorous" added in 1867. |