Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/245

Rh

, man of slack faith so long! Standing aloof—denying portions so long; Me with mole's eyes, unrisen to buoyancy and vision
 * —unfree,

Only aware to-day of compact, all-diffused truth, Discovering to-day there is no lie, or form of lie,
 * and can be none, but grows just as inevitably
 * upon itself as the truth does upon itself,

Or as any law of the earth, or any natural production
 * of the earth does.

(This is curious, and may not be realized immediately
 * —But it must be realized;

I feel in myself that I represent falsehoods equally
 * with the rest,

And that the universe does.)

Where has failed a perfect return, indifferent of lies
 * or the truth?

Is it upon the ground, or in water or fire? or in the
 * spirit of man? or in the meat and blood?

Meditating among liars, and retreating sternly into
 * myself, I see that there are really no liars or
 * lies after all,

And that nothing fails its perfect return—And that
 * what are called lies are perfect returns,