Page:Leaves of Grass (1882).djvu/341

Rh To think that these are so much and so nigh to other drivers, and he there takes no interest in them.

The markets, the government, the working-man's wages, to think what account they are through our nights and days,

To think that other working-men will make just as great account of them, yet we make little or no account.

The vulgar and the refined, what you call sin and what you call goodness, to think how wide a difference,

To think the diiference will still continue to others, yet we lie beyond the difference.

To think how much pleasure there is,

Do you enjoy yourself in the city? or engaged in business? or planning a nomination and election? or with your wife and family?

Or with your mother and sisters? or in womanly housework? or the beautiful maternal cares?

These also flow onward to others, you and I flow onward,

But in due time you and I shall take less interest in them.

Your farm, profits, crops—to think how engross'd you are,

To think there will still be farms, profits, crops, yet for you of what avail?

What will be will be well, for what is is well,

To take interest is well, and not to take interest shall be well.

The domestic joys, the daily housework or business, the building of houses, are not phantasms, they have weight, form, location,

Farms, profits, crops, markets, wages, government, are none of them phantasms,

The difference between sin and goodness is no delusion,

The earth is not an echo, man and his life and all the things of his life are well-consider'd.

You are not thrown to the winds, you gather certainly and safely around yourself,

Yourself! yourself! yourself, for ever and ever!

It is not to diffuse you that you were born of your mother and father, it is to identify you,