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Behold This Swarthy Face

Part of the cluster CALAMUS.

BEHOLD THIS SWARTHY FACE.

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.

Part of the cluster CALAMUS.

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