Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/269

Rh And through the orchard and along the old lanes
 * once more.

O male and female! O the presence of women! (I swear, nothing is more
 * exquisite to me than the presence of women;)

O for the girl, my mate! O for happiness with my
 * mate!

O the young man as I pass! O I am sick after the
 * friendship of him who, I fear, is indifferent
 * to me.

O the streets of cities! The flitting faces—the expressions, eyes, feet, costumes!
 * I cannot tell how welcome they are
 * to me;

O of men—of women toward me as I pass—The
 * memory of only one look—the boy lingering
 * and waiting.

O to have been brought up on bays, lagoons, creeks,
 * or along the coast!

O to continue and be employed there all my life! O the briny and damp smell—the shore—the salt
 * weeds exposed at low water.

The work of fishermen—the work of the eel-fisher
 * and clam-fisher.

O it is I! I come with my clam-rake and spade! I come with
 * my eel-spear;

Is the tide out? I join the group of clam-diggers on
 * the flats,