Male Allegory

And this, O this shall henceforth be the token of com-
rades—this Calamus-root shall,

Interchange it, youths, with each other! Let none 
render it back!)

And twigs of maple, and a bunch of wild orange, and 
chestnut,

And stems of currants, and plum-blows, and the aro-
matic cedar:

These, I, compass’d around by a thick cloud of spirits,

Wandering, point to, or touch as I pass, or throw them 
loosely from me.

                                                                  Whitman

No. 79