"A glimpse through an interstice caught,
Of a crowd of workmen and drivers in a bar-room, around the stove,
late of a winter-night, and I unremarked seated in a corner.
Of a youth who loves me, and whom I love, silently approaching
and seating himself near me, that he may hold me by the hand
A long while; amid the noises of coming and going of drinking and
oath and smutty jest.
There we two—content, happy in being together, speaking little,
perhaps not a word."
"… Whichever the sex, whatever the season or place, he may go freshly
and gently and safely, by day or by night;
He has the pass-key of all hearts, to him the responses of the
prying of hands on the knobs;
Pis welcome is universal—the flow of beauty is not more welcome
or universal than he;
The person he favours by day, or sleeps with at night is blessed."
"O tan-faced prairie-boy!
Before you came into camp came many a welcome gift;
Praises and presents came, and nourishing food, till at last
among the recruits
You came—taciturn, with nothing to give. We but looked on each other,
When, lo, more than all the gifts of the world you gave me!"
"… Behold me, well-clothed, going gaily or returning in the afternoon,
my brood of tough boys accompanying me,
My brood of grown and part-grown boys, who love to be with no
one else so well as to be with me;
By day to work with me, and by night to sleep with me."
"I too knitted the old knot of contrariety,
Was one with the rest, the days and haps of the rest,
Was called by my nighest name, by clear loud voices of young men,
as they saw me approaching or passing;
Felt their arms on my neck as I stood, or the negligent leaning of
their flesh against me as I sat;
Saw many I loved, in the street or ferry-boat, or public assembly,
but never told them a word ……
Sound out, voices of young men I loudly and musically call me by
my nighest name !',
— 378 —
