what peaches and what penumbras

There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object that he look'd upon, that object he became,
And that object became a part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles of year.

- from "There Was a Child Went Forth" by Walt Whitman

included in a book of poems that I got in a birthday package from my grandma in the mail today. I remember the first time I heard this poem, shortly after studying "Leaves of Grass"and introduced by someone I respected so much at an event that still is one of the most beautiful things i've ever been a part of (the whole being greater than the sum of its parts and all that). i hung a copy of this poem on my wall seven years ago, and then largely forgot about it. until tonight and opening the priority mail envelope at the katsu gourmet after an unsatisfying day.

also, across from whitman's 'here is the test of wisdom' in the book from my grandma is a full-color shot of Cannon Beach from Ecola State Park in the early hours of twilight.

and i miss snow on the trees (inbetween stretches of open farmland) in minnesota.