Goodbye My Fancy(四)
ON, ON THE SAME, YE JOCUND TWAIN! ON, on the same, ye jocund twain! My life and recitative, containing birth, youth, mid-age years, Fitful as motley-tongues of flame, inseparably twined and merged in one - combining all, My single soul - aims, confirmations, failures, joys - Nor single soul alone, I chant my nation's crucial stage, (America's, haply humanity's) - the trial great, the victory great, A strange eclaircissement of all the masses past, the eastern world, the ancient, medieval, Here, here from wanderings, strayings, lessons, wars, defeats - here at the west a voice triumphant - justifying all, A gladsome pealing cry - a song for once of utmost pride and satisfaction; I chant from it the common bulk, the general average horde, (the best no sooner than the worst) - And now I chant old age, (My verses, written first for forenoon life, and for the summer's, autumn's spread, I pass to snow-white hairs the same, and give to pulses winter-cool'd the same;) As here in careless trill, I and my recitatives, with faith and love, Wafting to other work, to unknown songs, conditions, On, on, ye jocund twain! continue on the same! |