and Germanic systems,
See the philosophies all, Christian churches and tenets see,
Yet underneath Socrates clearly see, and underneath Christ
     the divine I see,

The dear love of man for his comrade, the attraction of
     friend to friend,
Of the well-married husband and wife, of children and
     parents,
Of city for city and land for land.

1871 1871

RECORDERS AGES HENCE

RECORDERS ages hence,
Come, I will take you down underneath this impassive exterior,
     I will tell you what to say of me,
Publish my name and hang up my picture as that of the
     tenderest lover,
The friend the lover's portrait, of whom his friend his lover
     was fondest,
Who was not proud of his songs, but of the measureless
     ocean of love within him, and freely pour'd it forth,
Who often walk'd lonesome walks thinking of his dear
     friends, his lovers,
Who pensive away from one he lov'd often lay sleepless and
     dissatisfied at night,
Who knew too well the sick, sick dread lest the one he lov'd
     might secretly be indifferent to him,
Whose happiest days were far away through fields, in woods,
     on hills, he and another wandering hand in hand, they
     twain apart from other men,
Who oft as he saunter'd the streets curv'd with his arm the
     shoulder of his friend, while the arm of his friend rested
     upon him also.

1860 1867

WHEN I HEARD AT THE CLOSE OF THE DAY

WHEN I heard at the close of the day how my name had been
     receiv'd with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a
     happy night for me that follow'd,
And else when I carous'd, or when my plans were
     accomplish'd, still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect
     health, refresh'd, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of
     autumn,

When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and
     disappear in the morning light,
When I wander'd alone over the beach, and undressing
     bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun
     rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his
     way coming, O then I was happy,
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food
     nourish'd me more, and the beautiful day pass'd well,
And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at
     evening came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly
     continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed
     to me whispering to congratulate me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same
     cover in the cool night,
In the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was
     inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast — and that night I
     was happy.

1860 1867

ARE YOU THE NEW PERSON DRAWN
TOWARD ME?

ARE you the new person drawn toward me?
To begin with take warning, I am surely far different from
     what you suppose;
Do you suppose you will find in me your ideal?
Do you think it is so easy to have me become your lover?
Do you think the friendship of me would be unalloy'd
     satisfaction?
Do you think I am trusty and faithful?
Do you see no further than this façade, this smooth and
     tolerant manner of me?
Do you suppose yourself advancing on real ground toward a
     real heroic man?
Have you no thought O dreamer that it may be all maya,
     illusion?

1860 1867

ROOTS AND LEAVES THEMSELVES ALONE

ROOTS and leaves themselves alone are these,
Scents brought to men and women from the wild woods and
     pond-side,
Breast-sorrel and pinks of love, fingers that wind around
     tighter than vines,
Gushes from the throats of birds hid in the foliage of trees as
     the sun is risen,
Breezes of land and love set from living shores to you on the
     living sea, to you O sailors!
Frost-mellow'd berries and Third-month twigs offer'd fresh
     to young persons wandering out in the fields when the
     winter breaks up,
Love-buds put before you and within you whoever you
     are,
Buds to be unfolded on the old terms,
If you bring the warmth of the sun to them they will open
     and bring form, color, perfume, to you,
If you become the aliment and the wet they will become
     flowers, fruits, tall branches and trees.

1860 1867