Starting from Paumanok.

1 STARTING from fish-shape Paumanok, where I was born, Well-begotten, and rais’d by a perfect mother; After roaming many lands—lover of populous pavements; Dweller in Mannahatta, my city—or on southern savannas; 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and gun—or a miner in California; Or rude in my home in Dakota’s woods, my diet meat, my drink from the spring; Or withdrawn to muse and meditate in some deep recess, Far from the clank of crowds, intervals passing, rapt and happy; Aware of the fresh free giver, the flowing Missouri—aware of mighty Niagara; Aware of the buffalo herds, grazing the plains—the hirsute and strong-breasted bull; Of earth, rocks, Fifth-month flowers, experienced—stars, rain, snow, my amaze; Having studied the mocking-bird’s…