Whitman, Walt, 1819-1892. Leaves of Grass (1881-82)
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library

| Table of Contents for this work |
| All on-line databases | Etext Center Homepage |


SPIRIT THAT FORM'D THIS SCENE.
Written in Platte Cañon, Colorado.



SPIRIT-that form'd this scene,
These tumbled rock-piles grim and red,
These reckless heaven-ambitious peaks,
These gorges, turbulent-clear streams, this naked freshness,
These formless wild arrays, for reasons of their own,
I know thee, savage spirit -- we have communed together,
Mine too such wild arrays, for reasons of their own;
Was't charged against my chants they had forgotten art?
To fuse within themselves its rules precise and delicatesse?
The lyrist's measur'd beat, the wrought-out temple's grace --
     column and polish'd arch forgot?
But thou that revelest here -- spirit that form'd this scene,
They have remember'd thee.


-369-