I know now why the earth is gross, tantalizing, wicked, it is
     for my sake,
I take you specially to be mine, you terrible, rude forms.

(Mother, bend down, bend close to me your face,
I know not what these plots and wards and deferments are for,
I know not fruition's success, but I know that through war
     and crime your work goes on, and must yet go on.)

19

Thus by blue Ontario's shore,
While the winds fann'd me and the waves came trooping
     toward me,
I thrill'd with the power's pulsations, and the charm of my
     theme was upon me,
Till the tissues that held me parted their ties upon me.

And I saw the free souls of poets,
The loftiest bards of past ages strode before me,
Strange large men, long unwaked, undisclosed, were disclosed
     to me.

20

O my rapt verse, my call, mock me not!
Not for the bards of the past, not to invoke them have I
     launch'd you forth,
Not to call even those lofty bards here by Ontario's shores,
Have I sung so capricious and loud my savage song.

Bards for my own land only I invoke,
(For the war, the war is over, the field is clear'd,)
Till they strike up marches henceforth triumphant and
     onward,
To cheer O Mother your boundless expectant soul.

Bards of the great Idea! bards of the peaceful inventions!
     (for the war, the war is over!)
Yet bards of latent armies, a million soldiers waiting
     everready,
Bards with songs as from burning coals or the lightning's
     fork'd stripes!
Ample Ohio's, Kanada's bards — bards of California! inland
     bards — bards of the war!
You by my charm I invoke.

1856 1881

REVERSALS

Let that which stood in front go behind,
Let that which was behind advance to the front,
Let bigots, fools, unclean persons, offer new propositions,
Let the old propositions be postponed,
Let a man seek pleasure everywhere except in himself,
Let a woman seek happiness everywhere except in herself.

1856 1881