POETS TO COME
“POETS TO COME.” (1871)
POETS to come! orators, singers, musicians to come!
Not to-day is to justify me, and answer what I am
for;
for;
But you, a new brood, native, athletic, continental,
greater than before known,
greater than before known,
Arouse! Arouse—for you must justify me—you must
answer.
answer.
2 I myself but write one or two indicative words for the
future,
future,
I but advance a moment, only to wheel and hurry back
in the darkness.
in the darkness.
3 I am a man who, sauntering along, without fully stop-
ping, turns a casual look upon you, and then
averts his face,
ping, turns a casual look upon you, and then
averts his face,
Leaving it to you to prove and define it,
Expecting the main things from you.