- Trippers and askers surround me,
- People I meet, the effect upon me of my early life or the ward and city I live in, or the nation,
- The latest dates, discoveries, inventions, societies, authors old and new,
- My dinner, dress, associates, looks, compliments, dues,
- The real or fancied indifference of some man or woman I love,
- The sickness of one of my folks or of myself, or ill-doing or loss or lack of money, or depressions or exaltations,
- Battles, the horrors of fratricidal war, the fever of doubtful news, the fitful events;
These come to me days and nights and go from me again, But they are not the Me myself.
Apart from the pulling and hauling stands what I am, Stands amused, complacent, compassionating, idle, unitary, Looks down, is erect, or bends an arm on an impalpable certain rest, Looking with side-curved head curious what will come next, Both in and out of the game and watching and wondering at it.
Backward I see in my own days where I sweated through fog with linguists and contenders, I have no mockings or arguments, I witness and wait.