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The he-birds carol mornings and evenings, while the she-birds sit on their nests,

The young of poultry break through the hatched eggs,

The new-born of animals appear—the calf is dropt from the cow, the colt from the mare,

Out of its little hill faithfully rise the potato's dark green leaves,

Out of its hill rises the yellow maize-stalk;

The summer growth is innocent and disdainful above all those strata of sour dead.

5. What chemistry!

That the winds are really not infectious,

That this is no cheat, this transparent green-wash of the sea, which is so amorous after me,

That it is safe to allow it to lick my naked body all over with its tongues.

That it will not endanger me with the fevers that have deposited themselves in it,

That all is clean, forever and forever,

That the cool drink from the well tastes so good,

That blackberries are so flavorous and juicy,

That the fruits of the apple-orchard, and of the orange-orchard—that melons, grapes, peaches, plums, will none of them poison me,

That when I recline on the grass I do not catch any disease,

Though probably every spear of grass rises out of what was once a catching disease.

6. Now I am terrified at the Earth! it is that calm and patient,

It grows such sweet things out of such corruptions,