Walt Whitman: "Be not afraid of my body"

“I am the poet of the Body and I am the poet of the Soul”

by L. C.

Song of Myself

XXIV

(...)

Divine am I inside and out, and I make holy whatever I touch or am toch'd from,

The scent of these arm-pits aroma finer than prayer,
This head more than churches, bibles, and all the creeds.

(...)

As Adam early in the morning,
Walking forth from the bower refresh'd with sleep,
Behold me where I pass, hear my voice, approach,
Touch me, touch the palm of your hand to my body as I pass,
Be not afraid of my body

Walt Whitman

Source: Walt Witman, Leaves of grass