Behold This Swarthy Face
Behold This Swarthy Face - meaning Summary
Democratic Comradeship in Gesture
Whitman presents a direct, unadorned self-portrait that emphasizes physical features and everyday manners while highlighting a casual, mutual affection between Americans. The poem frames a spontaneous social gesture—a light, comradely kiss exchanged in public spaces—as an emblem of democratic camaraderie and shared identity. It treats ordinary contact as natural and unceremonious, connecting land and sea, and affirming simple human fellowship across class and place.
Read Complete AnalysesBEHOLD 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.
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