this is what you shall do:
love the earth and the sun and the animals
despise riches
give alms to every one that asks
stand up for the supid and crazy
devote your income and labour to others
hate tyrants
argue not concerning god
have patience and indulgence toward the people
take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men
go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families
read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life
re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book
dismiss whatever insults your own soul
and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes and in every motion and joint of your body...
((walt whitman))