Banned ? This is a test...

perhaps a sample would be in order:


... two simple men I saw to-day on the pier
... in the midst of the crowd, parting the parting of dear friends,
The one to remain hung on the other's neck and passionately kiss'd him,
While the one to depart tightly prest the one to remain in his arms.



from, What Think You I take Pen In Hand?



There are so many other examples of open display of same sex affection. In this modern society most of us wouldn't give any of it the merest thought. But back then? It would seem such open affection would be met with harshly. Thus, to me it would seem that this is fantasy, not actuality. What do you say?

Popplns,

It seems that Walt Whitman was very openly gay during his life and that lead to many problems specially after he published his poem collection Leaves of Grass. I'm attaching the link to his Wikipedia page so that you can see for yourself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman
I'm not sure if the so very British designation "Victorian" can be applied to an American poet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Danik 2016

Popplns,

It seems that Walt Whitman was very openly gay during his life and that lead to many problems specially after he published his poem collection Leaves of Grass. I'm attaching the link to his Wikipedia page so that you can see for yourself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Whitman
I'm not sure if the so very British designation "Victorian" can be applied to an American poet.

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I had seen that link before but it does not actually indicate whether the scenes described in the poetry were openly conducted. Things such as open affection in taverns or by the docks, or on the streets. Yes it does acknowledge that he had what are purported to be lovers but there are no eye witness accounts listed of these other activities.

As for whether the term Victorian is apropos for the USA in that era, historians have used the term (or more correctly, Victorian America):

https://www.bing.com/search?pglt=43&...DAF1=1&PC=HCTS

Thanks for the informative links, Poppins. So there is indeed an American Victorianism.

What happens with Whitman. Older bios tend to avoid the theme of homosexualily when writing about Whitman 's life. Something similar happened with Garcia Lorca, the great Spanish poet. But I found this
by AI, that can't be accused of Victorianism.