Long I thought

Long I thought that knowledge alone would suffice me --

O if I could but obtain knowledge!

The my lands engrossed me -- Lands of the prairies, Ohio's land,

the southern savannas, engrossed me -- For them I would live --

I would be their orator;

Then I met the examples of old and new heroes -- I heard of warriors,

sailors, and all dauntless persons --

And it seemed to me that I too had it in me to be as dauntless as any

-- and would be so;

And then, to enclose all, it came to me to strike up the songs of the New World

-- And then I believed my life must be spent in singing;

But now take notice, land of the prairies, land of the south savannas, Ohio's land,

Take notice, you Kanuck woods -- and you Lake Huron --

and all that with you roll toward Niagara -- and you Niagara also,

And you, Californian mountains -- That you each and all find somebody else

to be your singer of songs,

For I can be your singer of songs no longer -- One who loves me is jealous of me,

and withdraws me from all but love,

With the rest I dispense -- I sever from what I thought would suffice me,

for it does not -- it is now empty and tasteless to me,

I heed knowledge, and the grandeur of The States, and the example of heroes, no more,

I am indifferent to my own songs -- I will go with him I love,

It is to be enough for us that we are together -- We will never separate again.