I SING THE BODY ELECTRIC Walt Whitman Leaves of Grass, 1855-1892

I SING the Body electric; The armies of those I love en irth me! and I en irth them; They "ill not let me off till I o "ith them! res#ond to them! $nd discorr%#t them! and char e them f%ll "ith the char e of the So%l& Was it do%'ted that those "ho corr%#t their o"n 'odies conceal themselves; $nd if those "ho defile the livin are as 'ad as they "ho defile the dead( $nd if the 'ody does not do as m%ch as the So%l( $nd if the 'ody "ere not the So%l! "hat is the So%l(
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The love of the Body of man or "oman 'al)s

acco%nt*the 'ody itself 'al)s acco%nt; That of the male is #erfect! and that of the female is #erfect& The e+#ression of the face 'al)s acco%nt; B%t the e+#ression of a "ell-made man a##ears not only in his face; It is in his lim's and ,oints also! it is c%rio%sly in the ,oints of his hi#s and "rists; It is in his "al)! the carria e of his nec)! the fle+ of his "aist and )nees*dress does not hide him; The stron ! s"eet! s%##le -%ality he has! stri)es thro% h the cotton and flannel; To see him #ass conveys as m%ch as the 'est #oem! #erha#s more; .o% lin er to see his 'ac)! and the 'ac) of his nec) and sho%lder-side& The s#ra"l and f%lness of 'a'es! the 'osoms and heads of "omen! the

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folds of their dress! their style as "e #ass in the street! the conto%r of their sha#e do"n"ards! The s"immer na)ed in the s"immin -'ath! seen as he s"ims thro% h the trans#arent reen-shine! or lies "ith his face %#! and rolls silently to and fro in the heave of the "ater! The 'endin for"ard and 'ac)"ard of ro"ers in ro"-'oats*the horseman in his saddle! Girls! mothers! ho%se)ee#ers! in all their #erformances! The ro%# of la'orers seated at noon-time "ith their o#en dinner-)ettles! and their "ives "aitin ! The female soothin a child*the farmer/s da% hter in the arden or co"-yard! The yo%n fello" hoein corn*the slei h-driver %idin his si+ horses thro% h the cro"d! The "restle of "restlers! t"o a##rentice-'oys! -%ite ro"n! l%sty! ood-

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nat%red! native-'orn! o%t on the vacant lot at s%ndo"n! after "or)! The coats and ca#s thro"n do"n! the em'race of love and resistance! The %##er-hold and the %nder-hold! the hair r%m#led over and 'lindin the eyes; The march of firemen in their o"n cost%mes! the #lay of masc%line m%scle thro% h clean-settin tro"sers and "aiststra#s! The slo" ret%rn from the fire! the #a%se "hen the 'ell stri)es s%ddenly a ain! and the listenin on the alert! The nat%ral! #erfect! varied attit%des*the 'ent head! the c%rv/d nec)! and the co%ntin ; S%ch-li)e I love*I loosen myself! #ass freely! am at the mother/s 'reast "ith the little child! S"im "ith the s"immers! "restle "ith "restlers! march in line "ith the firemen! and

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#a%se! listen! and co%nt&

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I )no" a man! a common farmer*the father of five sons; $nd in them "ere the fathers of sons*and in them "ere the fathers of sons& This man "as of "onderf%l vi or! calmness! 'ea%ty of #erson; The sha#e of his head! the #ale yello" and "hite of his hair and 'eard! and the immeas%ra'le meanin of his 'lac) eyes*the richness and 'readth of his manners! These I %sed to o and visit him to see*he "as "ise also; 1e "as si+ feet tall! he "as over ei hty years old*his sons "ere massive! clean! 'earded! tan-faced! handsome; They and his da% hters loved him*all "ho sa" him loved him;
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They did not love him 'y allo"ance*they loved him "ith #ersonal love; 1e dran) "ater only*the 'lood sho"/d li)e scarlet thro% h the clear-'ro"n s)in of his face; 1e "as a fre-%ent %nner and fisher*he sail/d his 'oat himself* he had a fine one #resented to him 'y a shi#-,oiner*he had fo"lin -#ieces! #resented to him 'y men that loved him; When he "ent "ith his five sons and many rand-sons to h%nt or fish! yo% "o%ld #ic) him o%t as the most 'ea%tif%l and vi oro%s of the an & .o% "o%ld "ish lon and lon to 'e "ith him*yo% "o%ld "ish to sit 'y him in the 'oat! that yo% and he mi ht to%ch each other&
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I have #erceiv/d that to 'e "ith those I li)e is

eno% h! To sto# in com#any "ith the rest at evenin is eno% h! To 'e s%rro%nded 'y 'ea%tif%l! c%rio%s! 'reathin ! la% hin flesh is eno% h! To #ass amon them! or to%ch any one! or rest my arm ever so li htly ro%nd his or her nec) for a moment*"hat is this! then( I do not as) any more deli ht*I s"im in it! as in a sea& There is somethin in stayin close to men and "omen! and loo)in on them! and in the contact and odor of them! that #leases the so%l "ell; $ll thin s #lease the so%l *'%t these #lease the so%l "ell&
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This is the female form; $ divine nim'%s e+hales from it from head to foot; It attracts "ith fierce %ndenia'le attraction3

I am dra"n 'y its 'reath as if I "ere no more than a hel#less va#or*all falls aside '%t myself and it; Boo)s! art! reli ion! time! the visi'le and solid earth! the atmos#here and the clo%ds! and "hat "as e+#ected of heaven or fear/d of hell! are no" cons%med; 4ad filaments! %n overna'le shoots #lay o%t of it*the res#onse li)e"ise %n overna'le; 1air! 'osom! hi#s! 'end of le s! ne li ent fallin hands! all diff%sed*mine too diff%sed; 5'' st%n 'y the flo"! and flo" st%n 'y the e''*love-flesh s"ellin and delicio%sly achin ; 6imitless lim#id ,ets of love hot and enormo%s! -%iverin ,elly of love! "hite-'lo" and delirio%s ,%ice; Bride room ni ht of love! "or)in s%rely and softly into the #rostrate da"n; 7nd%latin into the "illin and yieldin day!

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6ost in the cleave of the clas#in and s"eetflesh/d day& This is the n%cle%s*after the child is 'orn of "oman! the man is 'orn of "oman; This is the 'ath of 'irth* this is the mer e of small and lar e! and the o%tlet a ain& Be not ashamed! "omen *yo%r #rivile e encloses the rest! and is the e+it of the rest; .o% are the ates of the 'ody! and yo% are the ates of the so%l& The female contains all -%alities! and tem#ers them*she is in her #lace! and moves "ith #erfect 'alance; She is all thin s d%ly veil/d*she is 'oth #assive and active; She is to conceive da% hters as "ell as sons! and sons as "ell as da% hters&

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$s I see my so%l reflected in nat%re; $s I see thro% h a mist! one "ith ine+#ressi'le com#leteness and 'ea%ty! See the 'ent head! and arms folded over the 'reast*the female I see&
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The male is not less the so%l! nor more*he too is in his #lace; 1e too is all -%alities*he is action and #o"er; The fl%sh of the )no"n %niverse is in him; Scorn 'ecomes him "ell! and a##etite and defiance 'ecome him "ell; The "ildest lar est #assions! 'liss that is %tmost! sorro" that is %tmost! 'ecome him "ell *#ride is for him; The f%ll-s#read #ride of man is calmin and e+cellent to the so%l; 9no"led e 'ecomes him *he li)es it al"ays*he 'rin s everythin to the test of himself;

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Whatever the s%rvey! "hatever the sea and the sail! he stri)es so%ndin s at last only here; :Where else does he stri)e so%ndin s! e+ce#t here(; The man/s 'ody is sacred! and the "oman/s 'ody is sacred; No matter "ho it is! it is sacred; Is it a slave( Is it one of the d%ll-faced immi rants ,%st landed on the "harf( 5ach 'elon s here or any"here! ,%st as m%ch as the "ell-off*,%st as m%ch as yo%; 5ach has his or her #lace in the #rocession& :$ll is a #rocession; The %niverse is a #rocession! "ith meas%red and 'ea%tif%l motion&; <o yo% )no" so m%ch yo%rself! that yo% call the slave or the d%ll-face
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i norant( <o yo% s%##ose yo% have a ri ht to a ood si ht! and he or she has no ri ht to a si ht( <o yo% thin) matter has cohered to ether from its diff%se float*and the soil is on the s%rface! and "ater r%ns! and ve etation s#ro%ts! =or yo% only! and not for him and her(
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$ man/s Body at a%ction; I hel# the a%ctioneer* the sloven does not half )no" his '%siness& Gentlemen! loo) on this "onder3 Whatever the 'ids of the 'idders! they cannot 'e hi h eno% h for it; =or it the lo'e lay #re#arin -%intillions of years! "itho%t one animal or #lant; =or it the revolvin cycles tr%ly and steadily roll/d& In this head the all-

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'afflin 'rain; In it and 'elo" it! the ma)in s of heroes& 5+amine these lim's! red! 'lac)! or "hite* they are so c%nnin in tendon and nerve; They shall 'e stri#t! that yo% may see them& 5+-%isite senses! life-lit eyes! #l%c)! volition! =la)es of 'reast-m%scle! #liant 'ac)-'one and nec)! flesh not fla''y! ood-si?ed arms and le s! $nd "onders "ithin there yet& Within there r%ns 'lood! The same old 'lood3 The same red-r%nnin 'lood3 There s"ells and ,ets a heart*there all #assions! desires! reachin s! as#irations; <o yo% thin) they are not there 'eca%se they are not e+#ress/d in #arlors and lect%re-rooms(

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This is not only one man *this is the father of those "ho shall 'e fathers in their t%rns; In him the start of #o#%lo%s states and rich re#%'lics; @f him co%ntless immortal lives! "ith co%ntless em'odiments and en,oyments& 1o" do yo% )no" "ho shall come from the offs#rin of his offs#rin thro% h the cent%ries( Who mi ht yo% find yo% have come from yo%rself! if yo% co%ld trace 'ac) thro% h the cent%ries(
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$ "oman/s Body at a%ction3 She too is not only herself*she is the teemin mother of mothers; She is the 'earer of them that shall ro" and 'e mates to the mothers& 1ave yo% ever loved the Body of a "oman(
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1ave yo% ever loved the Body of a man( .o%r father*"here is yo%r father( .o%r mother*is she livin ( have yo% 'een m%ch "ith her( and has she 'een m%ch "ith yo%( *<o yo% not see that these are e+actly the same to all! in all nations and times! all over the earth( If any thin is sacred! the h%man 'ody is sacred! $nd the lory and s"eet of a man! is the to)en of manhood %ntainted; $nd in man or "oman! a clean! stron ! firm-fi'red 'ody! is 'ea%tif%l as the most 'ea%tif%l face& 1ave yo% seen the fool that corr%#ted his o"n live 'ody( or the fool that corr%#ted her o"n live 'ody( =or they do not conceal themselves! and cannot conceal themselves&
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@ my Body3 I dare not desert the li)es of yo% in other men and "omen! nor the li)es of the #arts of yo%; I 'elieve the li)es of yo% are to stand or fall "ith the li)es of the So%l! :and that they are the So%l;; I 'elieve the li)es of yo% shall stand or fall "ith my #oems*and that they are #oems! 4an/s! "oman/s! child/s! yo%th/s! "ife/s! h%s'and/s! mother/s! father/s! yo%n man/s! yo%n "oman/s #oems; 1ead! nec)! hair! ears! dro# and tym#an of the ears! 5yes! eye-frin es! iris of the eye! eye-'ro"s! and the "a)in or slee#in of the lids! 4o%th! ton %e! li#s! teeth! roof of the mo%th! ,a"s! and the ,a"-hin es! Nose! nostrils of the nose! and the #artition! Ahee)s! tem#les! forehead! chin! throat! 'ac) of the nec)! nec)sl%e!

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Stron sho%lders! manly 'eard! sca#%la! hindsho%lders! and the am#le side-ro%nd of the chest& 7##er-arm! arm-#it! el'o"-soc)et! lo"er-arm! arm-sine"s! arm-'ones! Wrist and "rist-,oints! hand! #alm! )n%c)les! th%m'! fore-fin er! fin er-'alls! fin er-,oints! fin er-nails! Broad 'reast-front! c%rlin hair of the 'reast! 'reast-'one! 'reast-side! Bi's! 'elly! 'ac)-'one! ,oints of the 'ac)-'one! 1i#s! hi#-soc)ets! hi#stren th! in"ard and o%t"ard ro%nd! man'alls! man-root! Stron set of thi hs! "ell carryin the tr%n) a'ove! 6e -fi'res! )nee! )nee#an! %##er-le ! %nder le ! $n)les! inste#! foot-'all! toes! toe-,oints! the heel; $ll attit%des! all the sha#eliness! all the 'elon in s of my or yo%r 'ody! or of any one/s 'ody! male or female!
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The l%n -s#on es! the stomach-sac! the 'o"els s"eet and clean! The 'rain in its folds inside the s)%ll-frame! Sym#athies! heartvalves! #alate-valves! se+%ality! maternity! Womanhood! and all that is a "oman*and the man that comes from "oman! The "om'! the teats! ni##les! 'reast-mil)! tears! la% hter! "ee#in ! love-loo)s! love#ert%r'ations and risin s! The voice! artic%lation! lan %a e! "his#erin ! sho%tin alo%d! =ood! drin)! #%lse! di estion! s"eat! slee#! "al)in ! s"immin ! Coise on the hi#s! lea#in ! reclinin ! em'racin ! arm-c%rvin and ti htenin ! The contin%al chan es of the fle+ of the mo%th! and aro%nd the eyes! The s)in! the s%n-'%rnt shade! frec)les! hair! The c%rio%s sym#athy

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one feels! "hen feelin "ith the hand the na)ed meat of the 'ody! The circlin rivers! the 'reath! and 'reathin it in and o%t! The 'ea%ty of the "aist! and thence of the hi#s! and thence do"n"ard to"ard the )nees! The thin red ,ellies "ithin yo%! or "ithin me*the 'ones! and the marro" in the 'ones! The e+-%isite reali?ation of health; @ I say! these are not the #arts and #oems of the Body only! '%t of the So%l! @ I say no" these are the So%l3

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