Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892. Leaves of Grass (1872)
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
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13
(66) The negro holds firmly the reins of his four horses
-- the block swags underneath on its tied-over
chain;
The negro that drives the dray of the stone-yard --
steady and tall he stands, pois'd on one leg on
the string-piece;
His blue shirt exposes his ample neck and breast, and
loosens over his hip-band;
His glance is calm and commanding -- he tosses the
slouch of his hat away from his forehead;
The sun falls on his crispy hair and moustache -- falls
on the black of his polish'd and perfect limbs.
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(67) I behold the picturesque giant, and love him -- and I
do not stop there;
I go with the team also.
(68) In me the caresser of life wherever moving -- backward
as well as forward slueing;
To niches aside and junior bending.
(69) Oxen that rattle the yoke and chain, or halt in the
leafy shade! what is that you express in your
eyes?
It seems to me more than all the print I have read in
my life.
(70) My tread scares the wood-drake and wood-duck, on
my distant and day-long ramble;
They rise together -- they slowly circle around.
(71) I believe in those wing'd purposes,
And acknowledge red, yellow, white, playing within me,
And consider green and violet, and the tufted crown,
intentional;
And do not call the tortoise unworthy because she is not
something else;
And the jay in the woods never studied the gamut, yet
trills pretty well to me;
And the look of the bay mare shames silliness out of
me.