Tahitian Light and Dark
They called him “Purpure” because his hair
Shone light instead of black like theirs. It shone
Of poetry, perhaps, or maybe flair
Of charm. Their combination might atone
For many sins and signally his spell
Translated clearly in their tropic parts.
He fell in love. Tahiti made love swell
In both directions. In warm tropic hearts
He found a new dominion. Cambridge ways
(And Rugby ways) had thwarted him in love,
Both boys and women. Then Tahiti’s days
Revealed to Rupert something far above
The tightness of his English past. Now nights
Of love showed beauties set beside dark lights.
~ Phillip Whidden