April 17, 2012

Sailors Kissing

By Joe

Courtesy of Indiana University

Walt Whitman (1819–1892).  Leaves of Grass.  1900.

60. What think You I take my Pen in Hand?

WHAT think you I take my pen in hand to record?
The battle-ship, perfect-model’d, majestic, that I saw pass the offing to-day under full sail?
The splendors of the past day? Or the splendor of the night that envelopes me?
Or the vaunted glory and growth of the great city spread around me?—No;
But I record of two simple men I saw to-day, on the pier, in the midst of the crowd, parting the parting of dear friends;
The one to remain hung on the other’s neck, and passionately kiss’d him,
While the one to depart, tightly prest the one to remain in his arms.

An excerpt from this poem is featured in my post for tomorrow, so stay tuned.

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About Joe

I began my life in the South and for five years lived as a closeted teacher, but am now making a new life for myself as an oral historian in New England. I think my life will work out the way it was always meant to be. That doesn't mean there won't be ups and downs; that's all part of life. It means I just have to be patient. I feel like October 7, 2015 is my new birthday. It's a beginning filled with great hope. It's a second chance to live my life…not anyone else's. My profile picture is "David and Me," 2001 painting by artist Steve Walker. It happens to be one of my favorite modern gay art pieces. View all posts by Joe

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 17th, 2012 at 7:00 am and posted in Poetry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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5 responses to “Sailors Kissing”

• Daemon Ἴκαρος~ Δαμων
  April 17th, 2012 at 7:32 am

  Stunning. As a sailor, this resonates within. Those farewells are always soul rending but make the home welcomes in port so incredible. I look forward to more words from yourself tomorrow.daemon

  Reply
• RobFather-X
  April 17th, 2012 at 10:25 am

  I LOVE pics like this! Sure wish I could have done this(OPENLY and in UNIFORM!) when I was in the Navy – only a mere decade ago!

  Reply
• Jay M.
  April 17th, 2012 at 4:28 pm

  A teenager whose blog I follow just enlisted in the Navy. As openly gay. Just think, only a few months ago he would have had to hide who he was. What great progress we're making!Peace <3Jay

  Reply
• Dean
  April 17th, 2012 at 9:21 pm

  What a beautiful, concise poem! This is Whitman at his finest.

  Reply
• Jason Mihalko
  May 27th, 2013 at 10:07 am

  Did you see the original–more revealing–image at the Kinsey Institute Gallery? A crop of this image was also used by the artist group Gran Fury in the late 80s for an ACT-UP poster.___http://irreverentpsychologist.blogspot.com/2013/05/memorial-day-surprise-vintage-sailor.html

  Reply