Walt Whitman (1819–1892). Leaves of Grass. 1900.

258. Spain 1873–’74

OUT of the murk of heaviest clouds,

Out of the feudal wrecks, and heap’d-up skeletons of kings,

Out of that old entire European debris—the shatter’d mummeries,

Ruin’d cathedrals, crumble of palaces, tombs of priests,

Lo! Freedom’s features, fresh, undimm’d, look forth—the same immortal face looks forth;

(A glimpse as of thy mother’s face, Columbia,

A flash significant as of a sword,

Beaming towards thee.)

Nor think we forget thee, Maternal;

Lag’d’st thou so long? Shall the clouds close again upon thee?

Ah, but thou hast Thyself now appear’d to us—we know thee;

Thou hast given us a sure proof, the glimpse of Thyself;

Thou waitest there, as everywhere, thy time.