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.