Page:Leaves of Grass (1860).djvu/324

316 Here is the profound lesson of reception, neither
 * preference or denial,

The black with his woolly head, the felon, the diseased,
 * the illiterate person, are not denied;

The birth, the hasting after the physician, the beggar's
 * tramp, the drunkard's stagger, the laughing
 * party of mechanics,

The escaped youth, the rich person's carriage, the fop,
 * the eloping couple,

The early market-man, the hearse, the moving of
 * furniture into the town, the return back from
 * the town,

They pass, I also pass, any thing passes—none can
 * be interdicted.

None but are accepted, none but are dear to me.

You air that serves me with breath to speak! You objects that call from diffusion my meanings and
 * give them shape!

You light that wraps me and all things in delicate
 * equable showers!

You animals moving serenely over the earth! You birds that wing yourselves through the air! you
 * insects!

You sprouting growths from the farmers' fields! you
 * stalks and weeds by the fences!

You paths worn in the irregular hollows by the roadsides! I think you are latent with curious existences—you
 * are so dear to me.

You flagged walks of the cities! you strong curbs at
 * the edges!