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When I heard at the Close of the Day
(No. 11, from ‘Calamus’)
When I heard at the close of the
day how I had
been praised in the Capitol, still it was not
a happy night for me that followed,
And else when I caroused –
nor when my favorite plans were
accomplished – was I really happy,
But the day when I arose at dawn from the perfect
health, electric, inhaling sweet breath
When I saw the full moon in the west grow pale and
disappear in the morning light,
When I wandered alone over the beach, and undressing, bathed,
laughing with the waters, and saw the sun rise,
And when I thought how my friend, my lover, was on
his way coming, then O I was happy,
Each breath tasted sweeter –
and all that day my food
nourished me more – and the beautiful day passed 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 friend I love lay sleeping by my side,
In the stillness his face was inclined toward me, while the
moon's clear beams shone
And his arm lay lightly over my breast –
and that night I was happy.
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