Leaves of Grass · Chapter
Behold This Swarthy Face explained
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.
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.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the speaker fully internalizes the world’s suffering, feeling…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes 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
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.
