As the Time Draws Nigh

 1
AS the time draws nigh, glooming, a cloud, 
A dread beyond, of I know not what, darkens me. 

I shall go forth, 
I shall traverse The States awhile—but I cannot tell whither or how long; 
Perhaps soon, some day or night while I am singing, my voice will suddenly cease.

2
O book, O chants! must all then amount to but this? 
Must we barely arrive at this beginning of us?... And yet it is enough, O soul! 
O soul! we have positively appear’d—that is enough.

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