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Afoot and light hearted---I take to the open road:
Healthy, free, the world before me!
Henceforth I ask not good fortune---I myself am good fortune.
Strong and content, I travel the open road.
I inhale great drafts of space
The East and the West are mine;
The North and South are mine.
All seems beautiful to me.
I can repeat over to men and women:
you have done such good to me.
I would do the same to you.
Whoever you are----come travel with me!
However sweet these laid up stores;
However convenient this dwelling,
We cannot remain here!
However calm these waters;
However secure this harbor;
We must not anchor here.
Together, the inducements shall seem greater!
We shall sail wild and pathless seas
We will go where the winds blow---waves dash;
and the yankee clipper speeds by under full sail.
Foreward!!---after the great companions---and to belong to them
they too are--- on the road.
Onward!!--- to that which is endless---
as it was beginningless.
To undergo much---tramps of days and rests of night.
To see nothing anywhere but what you may reach it---and pass it.
To look up or down no road---but it stretches and waits for you!
To know the universe itself as a road---as many roads
AS ROADS FOR TRAVELING SOULS.