ROOTS and leaves themselves alone are these;
Scents brought to men and women from the wild
woods, and from the pond-side,
woods, and from the pond-side,
Breast-sorrel and pinks of love—fingers that wind
around tighter than vines,
around tighter than vines,
Gushes from the throats of birds, hid in the foliage
of trees, as the sun is risen;
of trees, as the sun is risen;
Breezes of land and love—breezes set from living
shores out to you on the living sea—to you,
O sailors!
shores out to you on the living sea—to you,
O sailors!
Frost-mellow’d berries, and Third-month twigs,
offer’d fresh to young persons wandering out
in the fields when the winter breaks up,
offer’d fresh to young persons wandering out
in the fields when the winter breaks up,
Love-buds, put before you and within you, whoever
you are,
you are,
Buds to be unfolded on the old terms;
If you bring the warmth of the sun to them, they
will open, and bring form, color, perfume, to
you;
will open, and bring form, color, perfume, to
you;
If you become the aliment and the wet, they will
become flowers, fruits, tall branches and trees.
become flowers, fruits, tall branches and trees.