[patriciaruth]

first paragraphs of the Seven Pillars is alledgedly a dedication to his gay lover.

I did not see it that way when I read Seven Pillars of Wisdom several different times during different stages of my life. I saw it as an apologia for many of the Arab male friendships he observed during his exploits, especially the two youngsters who were devoted to each other, Doud and ? forgot the other one's name.

[sonofatpatcher2]

To Dave Elias:

To S.A. 
I loved you, so I drew these tides of men into my hands 
and wrote my will across the sky in stars 
To earn you Freedom, the seven-pillared worthy house, 
that your eyes might be shining for me 
When we came. 
Death seemed my servant on the road, till we were near 
and saw you waiting: 
When you smiled, and in sorrowful envy he outran me 
and took you apart: 
Into his quietness. 
Love, the way-weary, groped to your body, our brief wage 
ours for the moment 
Before earth's soft hand explored your shape, and the blind 
worms grew fat upon 
Your substance. 
Men prayed me that I set our work, the inviolate house, 
as a menory of you. 
But for fit monument I shattered it, unfinished: and now 
The little things creep out to patch themselves hovels 
in the marred shadow 
Of your gift.

To ALL: here are some websites:

T. E. Lawrence Studies http://www.telstudies.org/research/spw/sptexts.htm

Seven Pillars of Wisdom http://www.wesjones.com/lawrence1.htm