I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars, And the pismire is equally perfect, and a grain of sand, and the egg of the wren, And the tree-toad is a chef-d’œuvre for the highest, and the dirt of the earth is just as grand, And a cow is a masterpiece, and a snail is as wonderful as the rose!

— Walt Whitman, “Leaves of Grass”

• Walt Whitman