----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This file was prepared by Keygen Ltd LLC for The Proud Reader™ project.
https://theproudreader.com/
https://k3y93n.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHnUg4W9wkn2ISDoCxucd_A
https://www.bitchute.com/theproudreader/
https://rumble.com/c/TheProudReader
https://odysee.com/@TheProudReader:c

https://www.minds.com/TheProudReader
https://gab.com/TheProudReader
https://parler.com/profile/TheProudReader

https://www.patreon.com/TheProudReader
https://www.subscribestar.com/theproudreader
https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=5GFSVWEHUPK66

This document is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International license (CC BY-SA 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Keygen Ltd LLC provides no warranty as to the accuracy of the information or text included in this document. It is provided "as is" and is for entertainment purposes.

However, the text below this paragraph is in the public domain, is not subject to the above license, and may be used freely on its own as you see fit—for commercial and non-commercial purposes. Only this document as a whole falls under the CC BY-SA 4.0. If you do use the below text, we would still appreciate a nod since we did the hard work and fixed OCR errors in many cases, but attribution is only required if you modify and redistribute this file.

Enjoy!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individuality
Henry Wilmarth Hazzen

published in Fourteen Sonnets and Poems, page 39
by Chicago: published privately, 1900



SINCE "all our knowledge is ourselves to know,"
  My highest use to others and to me
  Are my own thoughts that come of what I see,
Reflecting back and causing there to grow
Kindred in soil, in germ exotic though
  Distinct ideas, of self-determined force
  Gaging the weight and worth of my discourse,
And all of good that's in me to bestow.
Shall I renounce this inborn test of self?
  Forsake my own, to follow others' lead?
Be ranked a party hack, be duped by pelf,
  Or cramped in harness of some sect or creed?
Nay, let me live the least of all mankind,
Else in my speech, myself expression find.