I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey work of the stars,And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren,And the tree-toad is a chef-d’œuvre for the highest,And the running blackberry would adorn the parlors of heaven,And the narrowest hinge in my hand puts to scorn all machinery,And the cow crunching with depress’d head surpasses any statue,And a mouse is miracle enough to stagger sextillions of infidels.
Walt Whitman · Leaves of Grass
Nature & seasons
“I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey work of…”
- Author
- Walt Whitman
- Work
- Leaves of Grass
- Year
- 1892
- Chapter / part
- Song of Myself, 31
- Length
- 85 words
- Source
- Project Gutenberg eBook #1322
Public domain. This passage is in the public domain. Walt Whitman died in 1892, more than 70 years ago, and the work was first published in 1892. You can copy, print, read aloud or sell it without asking permission; a credit is kind but not required. The text is copied word for word from the Project Gutenberg edition linked here.
Related passages
Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,Healthy, free, the world before me,The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,Strong and content I travel the open road.
I celebrate myself, and sing myself,And what I assume you shall assume,For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.
I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?
L. M. MontgomeryAnne of Green Gables, 1908 · Chapter XVI: Diana is Invited to Tea with Tragic Results
Passage page · Read the full text
Passage page · Read the full text
Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.
Tiger, tiger, burning brightIn the forests of the night,What immortal hand or eyeCould frame thy fearful symmetry?
New passages, now and then
We keep adding passages and collections. Leave your email and we’ll tell you when something new lands.
Optional. One short email per new collection, and nothing else.