# Behold This Swarthy Face explained — Leaves of Grass

> Chapter companion for Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.

## What happens

The speaker presents his physical appearance and demeanor, then describes a moment of affectionate, robust love shared between two American comrades, celebrating a natural and nonchalant bond.

## 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.

## Character check-ins

### 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 lines

> 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._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters/behold-this-swarthy-face
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/leaves_of_grass_se/chapters