Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/329

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Poem of the Road.
321

(I think they hang there winter and summer on those
trees, and always drop fruit as I pass;)
What is it I interchange so suddenly with strangers?
What with some driver, as I ride on the seat by his
side?
What with some fisherman, drawing his seine by the
shore, as I walk by and pause?
What gives me to be free to a woman's or man's good-
will? What gives them to be free to mine?

27.The efflux of the Soul is happiness—here is
happiness,
I think it pervades the air, waiting at all times,
Now it flows into us—we are rightly charged.

28.Here rises the fluid and attaching character;
The fluid and attaching character is the freshness and
sweetness of man and woman,
The herbs of the morning sprout no fresher and
sweeter every day out of the roots of themselves,
than it sprouts fresh and sweet continually
out of itself.

29.Toward the fluid and attaching character exudes the
sweat of the love of young and old,
From it falls distilled the charm that mocks beauty
and attainments,
Toward it heaves the shuddering longing ache of
contact.

30.Allons! Whoever you are, come travel with me!
Travelling with me, you find what never tires.