Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/174

166 These affording, in all their particulars, endless
 * feuillage to me and to America, how can I do
 * less than pass the clew of the union of them, to
 * afford the like to you?

Whoever you are! how can I but offer you divine
 * leaves, that you also be eligible as I am?

How can I but, as here, chanting, invite you for
 * yourself to collect bouquets of the incomparable
 * feuillage of These States?



! Respondez! Let every one answer! Let those who sleep be
 * waked! Let none evade—not you, any more
 * than others!

(If it really be as is pretended, how much longer must
 * we go on with our affectations and sneaking?

Let me bring this to a close—I pronounce openly for
 * a new distribution of roles,)

Let that which stood in front go behind! and let
 * that which was behind advance to the front and
 * speak!

Let murderers, thieves, bigots, fools, unclean persons,
 * offer new propositions!

Let the old propositions be postponed! Let faces and theories be turned inside out! Let
 * meanings be freely criminal, as well as results!