All houses wherein men have lived and died Are haunted houses. Through the open doors The harmless phantoms on their errands glide, With feet that make no sound upon the floors. We meet them at the door-way, on the stair, Along the passages they come and go, Impalpable impressions on the air, A sense of [...]
Categories: gay,imagined histories,photography,poem,word
Tagged: gay halloween, ghosts, Halloween, spirits, vintage, vintage gay photo
If he asks about me, trace on the ground a cross of silence and ashes over the impure name that afflicts me. If he asks about me, say that I have died and that I am decaying beneath the ants. Tell him that I am a branch of an orange tree, the simple weather vane [...]
Categories: gay,imagined histories,photography,poem,Uncategorized,word
Tagged: bathtub, Emilio Ballagas, gay, man, vintage photo
His face slipped sideways across Nick’s as he breathed the word, the unguessed softness of his lips touched his cheeks and neck, while Nick sighed violently and ran his hand up and down on Leo’s back. He pushed his mouth towards Leo’s, and they met, and hurried into a kiss. To Nick it felt [...]
Categories: book,gay,imagined histories,photography,word
Tagged: Alan Hollinghurst, New York, The Line of Beauty, vintag, vintage gay photo, vintage male, vintage male affection
I recently posted an excerpt of the “subtle secrets of sex appeal” from Queen’s Quarterly Magazine published in December 1971. You learned all about the corpus delicious. May I assume your weight stayed “5 pounds under life insurance standards”? Just asking. Today we’re learning about the “sexual power of understatement.” Writer Walter Norris is inspired [...]
Categories: gay,photography,word
Tagged: 70s, Ciao, Colt Studios, Queen's Quarterly, vintage gay magazine, vintage gay photo
hey mister wrong, you’re the tingle in my jeans, you’re everything I don’t want but everything I need. I see other guys but their kisses don’t mean nothin’ cause you’re what I have in mind. Text: Bird York & Flannery, Wicked Little High, excerpt Image: Unknown, late 19th century, via Varones/Flickr
Categories: gay,imagined histories,photography,word
Tagged: Bird York & Flannery, vintage gay photo, vintage male affection, Wicked Little High
Queen’s Quarterly was a New York-based gay magazine that launched in 1969 and ran for about 13 years. Its tag line read “For Gay Guys Who Have No Hangups.” Queen’s Quarterly was out and proud and wanted its readers to be too. The format was an unapologetic mix of gay lifestyles features, travel, fiction and [...]
Categories: gay,magazine,photography,word
Tagged: 70s, advice, Jim Stryker, Queen's Quarterly, sex appeal, vintage gay magazine, vintage gay photo
Click to hear song: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] The rain may fall, the wind may blow, it may get down to 20 below, But I don’t mind ’cause I’m goin’ to the dance with you. The rent’s unpaid, the cupboard’s bare, I don’t mind, I won’t despair ‘Cause I’m in love and [...]
Categories: gay,imagined histories,music,photography,word
Tagged: gay, Roller skating, Shawn Ryan, vintage male affection
Susan Boyle’s graceful, prepossessing rendition of the Rolling Stones’ Wild Horses just hit the airwaves. Here, I’ve matched it up with a 1930′s photo of a man who, in my mind, won’t leave his lover, despite everything. Click to listen: [Audio clip: view full post to listen] I watched you suffer a dull aching pain [...]
Categories: imagined histories,music,photography,word
Tagged: America's Got Talent, Britain's Got Talent, horseback, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger, Rolling Stones, Susan Boyle, vintage photo, Wild Horses
Sunday, riding the Northern line. The tube is nearly empty. I look over and There he is. His trousers are caked with mud. His face is smudged and beautiful. He hasn’t moved. Is he asleep? Passed out? Can’t stop looking. Have to Move down toward him. His arms have been washed clean. Soft blond fur [...]
Categories: Passing Fancies,photography,word
Tagged: London tube, people watching
It’s been hot, Also very sweet. And I’m not usually indiscreet. But when he sparkles, The earth begins to sway. What more can I say? How can I express How confused am I by our happiness? I can’t eat breakfast, I cannot tie my shoe. What more can I do? If I said I love [...]
Categories: gay,imagined histories,photography,Uncategorized,word
Tagged: Falsettoland, gay, vintage male affection, vintage photo, William Finn
