|
BEHOLD this swarthy face, this unrefined face—these
gray eyes, |
| This beard—the white wool, unclipt upon my neck, |
|
My brown hands, and the silent manner of me, with-
out charm; |
|
Yet comes one, a Manhattanese, and ever at parting,
kisses me lightly on the lips with robust love, |
|
And I, in the public room, or on the crossing of the
street, or on the ship's deck, kiss him in return; |
|
We observe that salute of American comrades, land
and sea, |
| We are those two natural and nonchalant persons. |