Leaves of Grass (1871-72)

contents   |   previous   |   next
Page 135
View Page 135



 

Behold this Swarthy Face.

BEHOLD this swarthy face—these gray eyes,
This beard—the white wool, unclipt upon my neck,
My brown hands, and the silent manner of me, without
         charm;
Yet comes one, a Manhattanese, and ever at parting,
         kisses me lightly on the lips with robust love,
And I, on the crossing of the street, or on the ship's
         deck, give a kiss in return;
We observe that salute of American comrades, land and
         sea,
We are those two natural and nonchalant persons.
contents   |   previous   |   next

Comments?

Published Works | In Whitman's Hand | Life & Letters | Commentary | Resources | Pictures & Sound

Support the Archive | About the Archive

Distributed under a Creative Commons License. Ed Folsom & Kenneth M. Price, editors.