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1819–1892

All Is Truth

Walt Whitman

O me, man of slack faith so long, Standing aloof, denying portions so long, Only aware to-day of compact all-diffused truth, Discovering to-day there is no lie or form of lie, and can be none, but grows as inevitably upon itself as the truth does upon itself,

Or as any law of the earth or any natural production of the earth does. Meditating among liars and retreating sternly into myself, I see that there are really no liars or lies after all, And that nothing fails its perfect return, and that what are called lies are perfect returns, And that each thing exactly represents itself and what has preceded it,

And that the truth includes all, and is compact just as much as space is compact, And that there is no flaw or vacuum in the amount of the truth — but that all is truth without exception; And henceforth I will go celebrate any thing I see or am, And sing and laugh and deny nothing.

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All Is Truth · Walt Whitman · Poetry Cove