AFOOT and light-hearted I take to the open road，

    Healthy， free， the world before me，

    The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.

    Henceforth I ask not good-fortune， I myself am good-fortune，

    Henceforth I whimper no more， postpone¹ no more， need

    nothing，

    Done with indoor complaints， libraries， querulous criticisms，

    Strong and content I travel the open road.

    The earth， that is sufficient，

    I do not want the constellations² any nearer，

    I know they are very well where they are，

    I know they suffice for those who belong to them.

    （Still here I carry my old delicious burdens，

    I carry them， men and women， I carry them with me

    wherever I go，

    I swear it is impossible for me to get rid of them，

    I am fill'd with them； and I will fill them in return.）