We Two, How Long We Were Fool’d

WE two—how long we were fool'd!
Now transmuted, we swiftly escape, as Nature escapes;
We are Nature—long have we been absent, but now 
 we return;
We become plants, leaves, foliage, roots, bark;
We are bedded in the ground—we are rocks;
We are oaks—we grow in the openings side by side;
We browse—we are two among the wild herds, spontaneous as any;
We are two fishes swimming in the sea together;
We are what the locust blossoms are—we drop scent 
 around the lanes, mornings and evenings;
We are also the coarse smut of beats, vegetables, 
 minerals;
We are two predatory hawks—we soar above, and look 
 down;
We are two resplendent suns—we it is who balance 
 ourselves, orbic and stellar—we are as two comets;
We prowl fang'd and four-footed in the woods—we 
 spring on prey;
We are two clouds, forenoons and afternoons, driving 
 overhead;
We are seas mingling—we are two of those cheerful 
 waves, rolling over each other, and interwetting 
 each other;
We are what the atmosphere is, transparent, receptive, 
 pervious, impervious;
We are snow, rain, cold, darkness—we are each pro-
 duct and influence of the globe;
We have circled and circled till we have arrived home 
 again—we two have;
We have voided all but freedom, and all but our own 
 joy.