The shapes arise! The shape measured, sawed, jacked, joined, stained, The coffin-shape for the dead to lie within in his shroud; The shape got out in posts, in the bedstead posts, in the posts of the bride's bed; The shape of the little trough, the shape of the rockers beneath, the shape of the babe's cradle; The shape of the floor-planks, the floor-planks for dancers' feet; The shape of the planks of the family home, the home of the friendly parents and children, The shape of the roof of the home of the happy young man and woman, the roof over the well-married young man and woman, The roof over the supper joyously cooked by the chaste wife, and joyously eaten by the chaste husband, content after his day's work. The shapes arise! The shape of the prisoner's place in the court-room, and of him or her seated in the place; The shape of the liquor-bar leaned against by the young rum-drinker and the old rum-drinker; The shape of the shamed and angry stairs, trod, by sneaking footsteps; The shape of the sly settee, and the adulterous unwholesome couple; The shape of the gambling-board with its devilish winnings and losings; The shape of the step-ladder for the convicted and sentenced murderer, the murderer with haggard face and pinioned arms, The sheriff at hand with his deputies, the silent and white-lipped crowd, the sickening dangling of the rope. The shapes arise! Shapes of doors giving many exits and entrances; The door passing the dissevered friend, flushed and in haste; The door that admits good news and bad news; The door whence the son left home, confident and puffed up; The door he entered again from a long and scandalous absence, diseased, broken down, without innocence, without means. 11. Her shape arises, She less guarded than ever, yet more guarded than ever; The gross and soiled she moves among do not make her gross and soiled; She knows the thoughts as she passes--nothing is concealed from her; She is none the less considerate or friendly therefor; She is the best beloved--it is without exception--she has no reason to fear, and she does not fear; Oaths, quarrels, hiccupped songs, smutty expressions, are idle to her as she passes; She is silent--she is possessed of herself--they do not offend her; She receives them as the laws of nature receive them--she is strong, She too is a law of nature--there is no law stronger than she is. 12. The main shapes arise! Shapes of Democracy, total result of centuries; Shapes, ever projecting other shapes; Shapes of a hundred Free States, begetting another hundred; Shapes of turbulent manly cities; Shapes of the women fit for these States, Shapes of the friends and home-givers of the whole earth, Shapes bracing the earth, and braced with the whole earth. _ANTECEDENTS._ 1.