Do you think that odes and sermons… And the ringing of church bells, And the blood of old men and young… Martyred for the truth they saw With eyes made bright by faith in…

I tried to win the nomination For president of the County-board And I made speeches all over the… Denouncing Solomon Purple, my riv… As an enemy of the people,

In youth my wings were strong and… But I did not know the mountains. In age I knew the mountains But my weary wings could not follo… Genius is wisdom and youth.

They brought me ambrotypes Of the old pioneers to enlarge. And sometimes one sat for me— Some one who was in being When giant hands from the womb of…

Rhodes’ slave! Selling shoes and… Flour and bacon, overalls, clothin… For fourteen hours a day for three… For more than twenty years. Saying “Yes’m” and “Yes, sir”, an…

They told me I had three months t… So I crept to Bernadotte, And sat by the mill for hours and… Where the gathered waters deeply m… Seemed not to move:

They would have lynched me Had I not been secretly hurried a… To the jail at Peoria. And yet I was going peacefully ho… Carrying my jug, a little drunk,

When conquerors lift the bloody sh… Showing the fallen’s ooze of life, And on a waste of blasted field Joy quickens to the drum and fife, Then the weird brood of flame and…

What but the love of God could ha… And made forgiving the people of… Toward me who wronged the bed of… And murdered him beside? Oh, loving hearts that took me in…

You have become a forge of snow-wh… A crucible of molten steel, O Fra… Your sons are stars who cluster to… And fade in light for you, O glor… They pass through meteor changes w…

There is the caw of a crow, And the hesitant song of a thrush. There is the tinkle of a cowbell f… And the voice of a plowman on Shi… The forest beyond the orchard is s…

I was the laughing-stock of the vi… Chiefly of the people of good sens… Also of the learned, like Rev. Pe… The same as English. For instead of talking free trade,

Almost the shell of a woman after… And almost a year to creep back in… Till the dawn of our wedding decen… Found me my seeming self again. We walked the forest together,

Glorious daughter of time! Thou o… Thou of the virginal forehead—pall… Thou of the strong white hands wit… Of the blood that quickened the fa… Leave thou the path of the beasts.…

In my life I was the town drunkar… When I died the priest denied me… In holy ground. The which rebounded to my good for… For the Protestants bought this l…