Behold This Swarthy Face explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Comradeship and Love

  The poem centers on a kiss exchanged between two men, described as 'robust love' and a salute of American comrades, emphasizing natural, nonchalant affection.

• America and Its People

  The comrades are identified as 'American comrades,' and their bond is presented as a distinctly American expression of camaraderie.

Characters to notice

• Narrator

  The speaker describes his own swarthy face, gray eyes, beard, and brown hands, and participates in the kiss of comradeship.

• America

  The salute of American comrades is observed, situating the bond within the context of the nation.

Key passages

• “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.”

  A man from Manhattan kisses me on the lips at parting with strong affection, and I return the kiss in public spaces; we recognize this as the greeting of American comrades everywhere, and we are simply two easygoing people.

  Highlights the central act of affectionate greeting between comrades, framed as natural and American.