WE twohow long we were foold!
Now transmuted, we swiftly escape, as Nature escapes;
We are Naturelong have we been absent, but now we return;
We become plants, leaves, foliage, roots, bark;
We are bedded in the groundwe are rocks;
We are oakswe grow in the openings side by side;
We browsewe are two among the wild herds, spontaneous as any;
We are two fishes swimming in the sea together;
We are what the locust blossoms arewe drop scent around the lanes, mornings and
evenings;
We are also the coarse smut of beasts, vegetables, minerals;
We are two predatory hawkswe soar above, and look down;
We are two resplendent sunswe it is who balance ourselves, orbic and stellarwe
are as two comets;
We prowl fangd and four-footed in the woodswe spring on prey;
We are two clouds, forenoons and afternoons, driving overhead;
We are seas minglingwe are two of those cheerful waves, rolling over each other, and
interwetting each other;
We are what the atmosphere is, transparent, receptive, pervious, impervious:
We are snow, rain, cold, darknesswe are each product and influence of the globe;
We have circled and circled till we have arrived home againwe two have;
We have voided all but freedom, and all but our own joy.
We TwoHow Long We were Foold.
written byWalt Whitman
© Walt Whitman