Roots and Leaves Themselves Alone

<SPAN name="startofbook"></SPAN> <h2> <SPAN name="link2H_4_0055" id="link2H_4_0055"></SPAN> Roots and Leaves Themselves Alone </h2> <p> Roots and leaves themselves alone are these,<br/> Scents brought to men and women from the wild woods and pond-side,<br/> Breast-sorrel and pinks of love, fingers that wind around tighter<br/> than vines,<br/> Gushes from the throats of birds hid in the foliage of trees as the<br/> sun is risen,<br/> Breezes of land and love set from living shores to you on the living<br/> sea, to you O sailors!<br/> Frost-mellow’d berries and Third-month twigs offer’d fresh to young<br/> persons wandering out in the fields when the winter breaks up,<br/> Love-buds put before you and within you whoever you are,<br/> Buds to be unfolded on the old terms,<br/> If you bring the warmth of the sun to them they will open and bring<br/> form, color, perfume, to you,<br/> If you become the aliment and the wet they will become flowers,<br/> fruits, tall branches and trees.<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />