Walt Whitman
@skeetsofgrass.bsky.social
The 1855 edition of Leaves of Grass, in order, little by little, over and over.
Do you call that a paradox? It certainly is a paradox.
January 13, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Do you call that a paradox? It certainly is a paradox.
Great is wickedness .... I find I often admire it just as much as I admire goodness:
January 12, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Great is wickedness .... I find I often admire it just as much as I admire goodness:
I do not know what it is any more than I know what health is .... but I know it is great.
January 12, 2026 at 8:49 PM
I do not know what it is any more than I know what health is .... but I know it is great.
Great is goodness;
January 12, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Great is goodness;
Before the perfect judge all shall stand back .... life and death shall stand back .... heaven and hell shall stand back.
January 12, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Before the perfect judge all shall stand back .... life and death shall stand back .... heaven and hell shall stand back.
The perfect judge fears nothing .... he could go front to front before God,
January 12, 2026 at 2:49 PM
The perfect judge fears nothing .... he could go front to front before God,
They rule on the highest grounds .... they oversee all eras and states and administrations,
January 12, 2026 at 12:49 PM
They rule on the highest grounds .... they oversee all eras and states and administrations,
It is well assorted .... they have not studied for nothing ..... the great includes the less,
January 12, 2026 at 10:49 AM
It is well assorted .... they have not studied for nothing ..... the great includes the less,
For justice are the grand natural lawyers, and perfect judges .... it is in their souls,
January 12, 2026 at 8:49 AM
For justice are the grand natural lawyers, and perfect judges .... it is in their souls,
It is immutable .. it does not depend on majorities .... majorities or what not come at last before the same passionless and exact tribunal.
January 12, 2026 at 6:49 AM
It is immutable .. it does not depend on majorities .... majorities or what not come at last before the same passionless and exact tribunal.
It cannot be varied by statutes any more than love or pride or the attraction of gravity can,
January 12, 2026 at 4:49 AM
It cannot be varied by statutes any more than love or pride or the attraction of gravity can,
Justice is not settled by legislators and laws .... it is in the soul,
January 12, 2026 at 2:49 AM
Justice is not settled by legislators and laws .... it is in the soul,
Great is Justice;
January 12, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Great is Justice;
Great are marriage, commerce, newspapers, books, freetrade, railroads, steamers, international mails and telegraphs and exchanges.
January 11, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Great are marriage, commerce, newspapers, books, freetrade, railroads, steamers, international mails and telegraphs and exchanges.
Great is the law .... Great are the old few landmarks of the law .... they are the same in all times and shall not be disturbed.
January 11, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Great is the law .... Great are the old few landmarks of the law .... they are the same in all times and shall not be disturbed.
The new rule shall rule as the soul rules, and as the love and justice and equality that are in the soul rule.
January 11, 2026 at 6:49 PM
The new rule shall rule as the soul rules, and as the love and justice and equality that are in the soul rule.
It is the mother of the brood that must rule the earth with the new rule,
January 11, 2026 at 4:49 PM
It is the mother of the brood that must rule the earth with the new rule,
Great is the English brood .... What brood has so vast a destiny as the English?
January 11, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Great is the English brood .... What brood has so vast a destiny as the English?
Great is the English speech .... What speech is so great as the English?
January 11, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Great is the English speech .... What speech is so great as the English?
It is greater than wealth .... it is greater than buildings or ships or religions or paintings or music.
January 11, 2026 at 10:49 AM
It is greater than wealth .... it is greater than buildings or ships or religions or paintings or music.
It is the fulness and color and form and diversity of the earth .... and of men and women .... and of all qualities and processes;
January 11, 2026 at 8:49 AM
It is the fulness and color and form and diversity of the earth .... and of men and women .... and of all qualities and processes;
Great is language .... it is the mightiest of the sciences,
January 11, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Great is language .... it is the mightiest of the sciences,
Sound your voice! I scale mountains or dive in the sea after you.
January 11, 2026 at 4:49 AM
Sound your voice! I scale mountains or dive in the sea after you.
O truth of the earth! O truth of things! I am determined to press the whole way toward you,
January 11, 2026 at 2:49 AM
O truth of the earth! O truth of things! I am determined to press the whole way toward you,
If there be equilibrium or volition there is truth .... if there be things at all upon the earth there is truth.
January 11, 2026 at 12:49 AM
If there be equilibrium or volition there is truth .... if there be things at all upon the earth there is truth.