Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/130

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Leaves of Grass.

34. I swear I begin to see the meaning of these things!
It is not the earth, it is not America, who is so great,
It is I who am great, or to be great—it is you, or
any one,
It is to walk rapidly through civilizations, governments,
theories, nature, poems, shows, to individuals.

35. Underneath all are individuals,
I swear nothing is good to me now that ignores
individuals!
The American compact is altogether with individuals,
The only government is that which makes minute of
individuals,
The whole theory of the universe is directed to one
single individual—namely, to You.

36. Underneath all is nativity,
I swear I will stand by my own nativity—pious or
impious, so be it;
I swear I am charmed with nothing except nativity,
Men, women, cities, nations, are only beautiful from
nativity.

37. Underneath all is the need of the expression of love
for men and women,
I swear I have had enough of mean and impotent
modes of expressing love for men and women,
After this day I take my own modes of expressing
love for men and women.

38. I swear I will have each quality of my race in
myself,