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Leaves of Grass.
24. Great is Wickedness—I find I often admire it, just as
- much as I admire goodness,
- Do you call that a paradox? It certainly is a paradox.
25. The eternal equilibrium of things is great, and the
- eternal overthrow of things is great,
- And there is another paradox.
26. Great is Life, real and mystical, wherever and whoever,
- Great is Death—sure as Life holds all parts together,
- Death holds all parts together,
- Death has just as much purport as Life has,
- Do you enjoy what Life confers? you shall enjoy what
- Death confers,
- I do not understand the realities of Death, but I know
- they are great,
- I do not understand the least reality of Life—how then
- can I understand the realities of Death?
3.
1. A young man came to me with a message from his
- brother,
- How should the young man know the whether and
- when of his brother?
- Tell him to send me the signs.
2. And I stood before the young man face to face, and
- took his right hand in my left hand, and his left
- hand in my right hand,