April 15, 2010
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Walt Whitman
I sing the body electric
6
The male is not less the soul nor more, he too is in his place,
He too is all qualities, he is action and power,
The flush of the known universe is in him,
Scorn becomes him well, and appetite and defiance become him well,
The wildest largest passions, bliss that is utmost, sorrow that is
utmost become him well, pride is for him,
The full-spread pride of man is calming and excellent to the soul,
Knowledge becomes him, he likes it always, he brings every thing to
the test of himself,
Whatever the survey, whatever the sea and the sail he strikes
soundings at last only here,
(Where else does he strike soundings except here?)The man's body is sacred and the woman's body is sacred,
No matter who it is, it is sacred--is it the meanest one in the
laborers' gang?
Is it one of the dull-faced immigrants just landed on the wharf?
Each belongs here or anywhere just as much as the well-off, just as
much as you,
Each has his or her place in the procession.(All is a procession,
The universe is a procession with measured and perfect motion.)Do you know so much yourself that you call the meanest ignorant?
Do you suppose you have a right to a good sight, and he or she has
no right to a sight?
Do you think matter has cohered together from its diffuse float, and
the soil is on the surface, and water runs and vegetation sprouts,
For you only, and not for him and her?
Comments (4)
If I was smarter I could think of a comment.
There's nothing to say, so not being able to think of a comment is already the sign or a superior intelligence.
Seriously though...
I've started reading through Whitman, and I've had my breath taken away.
The section above I read on a day people were talking about limiting immigration. (On the news.)
Synchronicity. Many times (almost always) whatever book I'm reading connects with my life at the moment in ways that surprise me.
Incidentally (synchronistically?), I was to comment this morning that "I" was "smart" and that I couldn't think of a comment either. And no, I'm not making this up! I refrained because I thought it might not be taken for the joke it was meant to be. But now I see this under a whole new lighting.
Anyways, thanks for the compliment.
Comments are closed.