Not everyone knows that one of America's beloved poets was gay...and that he was also a "new age thinker." Those two facts are something that is not in high school English lit.
Portions of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" are quite homoerotic. The poetry conjures up images of male to male love.
In my mature age, I realize that I have been blessed with a few very wonderful lovers as well as many loves. Truly, as I look around me I am blessed with all of the love that is in my life.
Today my last lover has been on my mind all day. Against all odds or all reason we had an affair that lasted on/off for six years. The last time I heard from him was either 2002 or 2003 and he may be in Georgia, Louisiana, or maybe California.
My nickname for him was "The Little Guy"...and to this day I still refer to him by that name.
Over the years that we were together he said a number of romantic things to be that are for some reason branded on my heart. One day after spending a day in the sun at San Gregorio picnicking, drinking wine, smoking a little weed...he said to me as we returned to my home "If I were a puppy dog, my tail would be wagging right now in happiness."
On another day and at a more serious time in his life, I had called him and in the start of our conversation I'd asked if I had called at a bad time. He said: "Do not worry for every time I hear your voice it calms my heart."
By the way, the above sketch is of him at his home (it is a snapshot that I've doctored up to protect the innocent...or not so innocent. :-))
So...today... Little Guy...I am thinking of you and I send this Walt Whitman poem to you wherever you are:
When I Heard at the Close of the Day
BY WALT WHITMAN
When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me that follow’d,
And else when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d, still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh’d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light,
When I wander’d alone over the beach, and undressing bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his way coming, O then I was happy,
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food nourish’d me more, and the beautiful day pass’d well,
And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at evening came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed to me whispering to congratulate me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night,
In the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast – and that night I was happy.
Portions of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" are quite homoerotic. The poetry conjures up images of male to male love.
In my mature age, I realize that I have been blessed with a few very wonderful lovers as well as many loves. Truly, as I look around me I am blessed with all of the love that is in my life.
Today my last lover has been on my mind all day. Against all odds or all reason we had an affair that lasted on/off for six years. The last time I heard from him was either 2002 or 2003 and he may be in Georgia, Louisiana, or maybe California.
My nickname for him was "The Little Guy"...and to this day I still refer to him by that name.
Over the years that we were together he said a number of romantic things to be that are for some reason branded on my heart. One day after spending a day in the sun at San Gregorio picnicking, drinking wine, smoking a little weed...he said to me as we returned to my home "If I were a puppy dog, my tail would be wagging right now in happiness."
On another day and at a more serious time in his life, I had called him and in the start of our conversation I'd asked if I had called at a bad time. He said: "Do not worry for every time I hear your voice it calms my heart."
By the way, the above sketch is of him at his home (it is a snapshot that I've doctored up to protect the innocent...or not so innocent. :-))
So...today... Little Guy...I am thinking of you and I send this Walt Whitman poem to you wherever you are:
When I Heard at the Close of the Day
BY WALT WHITMAN
When I heard at the close of the day how my name had been receiv’d with plaudits in the capitol, still it was not a happy night for me that follow’d,
And else when I carous’d, or when my plans were accomplish’d, still I was not happy,
But the day when I rose at dawn from the bed of perfect health, refresh’d, singing, inhaling the ripe breath of autumn,
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and disappear in the morning light,
When I wander’d alone over the beach, and undressing bathed, laughing with the cool waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my dear friend my lover was on his way coming, O then I was happy,
O then each breath tasted sweeter, and all that day my food nourish’d me more, and the beautiful day pass’d well,
And the next came with equal joy, and with the next at evening came my friend,
And that night while all was still I heard the waters roll slowly continually up the shores,
I heard the hissing rustle of the liquid and sands as directed to me whispering to congratulate me,
For the one I love most lay sleeping by me under the same cover in the cool night,
In the stillness in the autumn moonbeams his face was inclined toward me,
And his arm lay lightly around my breast – and that night I was happy.
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