Starting from Paumanok

STARTING from fish-shape Paumanok where I was born，

Well-begotten， and rais'd by a perfect mother，

After roaming many lands， lover of populous1 pavements，

Dweller2 in Mannahatta my city， or on southern savannas3，

Or a soldier camp'd or carrying my knapsack and gun， or a

miner in California，

Or rude in my home in Dakota's woods， my diet meat， my

drink from the spring，

Or withdrawn4 to muse5 and meditate6 in some deep recess7，

Far from the clank of crowds intervals8 passing rapt and

happy，

Aware of the fresh free giver the flowing Missouri， aware of

mighty9 Niagara，

Aware of the buffalo10 herds11 grazing the plains， the hirsute12 and

strong-breasted bull，

Of earth， rocks， Fifth-month flowers experienced， stars， rain，

snow， my amaze，

Having studied the mocking-bird's tones and the flight of the

mountain-hawk，

And heard at dawn the unrivall'd one， the hermit13 thrush

from the swamp-cedars，

Solitary14， singing in the West， I strike up for a New World.