Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892. Leaves of Grass (1872)
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
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9
(29) What are you doing, young man?
Are you so earnest -- so given up to literature, science,
art, amours?
These ostensible realities, politics, points?
Your ambition or business, whatever it may be?
(30) It is well -- Against such I say not a word -- I am
their poet also;
Page 19
But behold! such swiftly subside -- burnt up for Reli-
gion's sake;
For not all matter is fuel to heat, impalpable flame, the
essential life of the earth,
Any more than such are to Religion.