Description
Edward Carpenter published this poem in praise of queer desire in his literary work "Towards Democracy."
Text
You, proud curve-lipped youth. with brown sensitive face,
Why, suddenly, as you sat there on the grass, did you
turn full upon me those twin black eye of yours
With gaze so absorbing so intense, I a strong man
trembled and was faint?
Why in a moment between me and you in the full
summer afternoon did Love sweep- leading after it in procession
across the lawn and the flowers and under the waving
trees huge dusky shadows of Death and the other world?
I know not
Solemn and dewy-passionate, yet burning clear and sted-fast at the last
Through the long night those eyes of yours, dear, remain to me—
And I remain gazing into them
Page numbers in original volume
165