243. Gods. Whitman, Walt. 1900. Leaves of Grass

Walt Whitman (1819–1892). Leaves of Grass. 1900.

243. Gods

1 THOUGHT of the Infinite—the All!
Be thou my God.

2 Lover Divine, and Perfect Comrade!
Waiting, content, invisible yet, but certain,
Be thou my God.	5

3 Thou—thou, the Ideal Man!
Fair, able, beautiful, content, and loving,
Complete in Body, and dilate in Spirit,
Be thou my God.

4 O Death—(for Life has served its turn;)	10
Opener and usher to the heavenly mansion!
Be thou my God.

5 Aught, aught, of mightiest, best, I see, conceive, or know,
(To break the stagnant tie—thee, thee to free, O Soul,)
Be thou my God.	15

6 Or thee, Old Cause, when’er advancing;
All great Ideas, the races’ aspirations,
All that exalts, releases thee, my Soul!
All heroisms, deeds of rapt enthusiasts,
Be ye my Gods!	20

7 Or Time and Space!
Or shape of Earth, divine and wondrous!
Or shape in I myself—or some fair shape, I, viewing, worship,
Or lustrous orb of Sun, or star by night:
Be ye my Gods.	25