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Homage To the Gay Poets

I was wondering how many renowned gay poets I know— Like Oscar Wilde, Walt Whitman, and Arthur Rimbaud? Edna St. Vincent Millay and Alice Walker, I am told, Both Sylvia Plath and Gertrude Stein were rather bold. The “Beat Generation’s” W. H. Burroughs and Jack Kerouac Emily Dickinson and T. S. Eliot were not free from attack. Then, there was Paul Verlaine, an exceptional find, While W. H. Auden and Langston Hughes come to mind. I wonder what inner conflicts they must have endured Living in a puritanical society, their sexuality inured. In compelling verse, they revealed parts of themselves Some readers carefully hiding their works on the shelves. Had these marvelous poets not been born out of time Colorful lives might not have overwhelmed their rhyme. It is fitting we acknowledge their outstanding contributions Without undue reference to their personal attributions. Written March 21, 2021

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Caren Krutsinger

Date: 3/24/2021 12:13:00 AM

I cannot imagine "I wonder what inner conflicts they must have endured Living in a puritanical society, their sexuality inured. " and glad I was not there to see it. My mother says no one would "choose" to be gay, because it is too hard a life, so GOD meant for them to be gay, and we need to be cognizant of this.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/24/2021 9:00:00 AM

I certainly think so, Caren. I try very hard to live by the credo that every person has the right of being...being whomever they are and respect for being whomever they are. Then, of course, I believe in some boundaries. Thanks for your thoughts.

Christopher Flaherty

Date: 3/22/2021 5:58:00 PM

Their word's we're obviously profound and have lasted the test of time obviously L.M.H.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/22/2021 6:07:00 PM

Ah, true. Thanks for reading and commenting on my poem, Christopher. Appreciated.

Paul Callus

Date: 3/22/2021 10:13:00 AM

Those inner conflicts must have been hard to endure; for some those feelings and emotions contributed to the poetry they wrote. You did well to bring this to the attention of the readers, L.M. ~ Regards // paul

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/22/2021 1:47:00 PM

Thank you, Paul. Thanks for reading and commenting on what I felt was a very important story to be told!

Mark Koplin

Date: 3/22/2021 6:38:00 AM

It must be hell for the ones abandoned by their families and friends. When my son came out he was terrified of how he would be seen. For me he is and always will be my son no matter what his orientation is. Gay people are still being judged but slowly things are getting better. We are all children of God! Great write Milton!

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/22/2021 7:18:00 AM

Thanks, Mark. I appreciated your read and your comment. Give your son my best regards!

Richard Lamoureux

Date: 3/21/2021 10:59:00 PM

I just watched a movie about Emily Dickinson. It was quite a personal portrayal of her passionate relationship with her sister in law. It was a very well done movie. It is good that people are more open to view artists as they were. This way we better understand their lives and Art.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/22/2021 7:17:00 AM

So true, Richard. I have not seen that movie, but I'll keep an eye out for it. Have a great week!

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 3/21/2021 4:24:00 PM

You have named some great writers here, they all have enriched the literary pages with their words, it is so sad that some of them were jailed or blacklisted to keep them from pursuing their craft. I have heard the rumors about Dickinson but of course nobody can know for sure (not that it would change my mind on her beautiful poetry one way or the other)

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/21/2021 4:31:00 PM

Thanks for the read and your excellent comments. After writing poetry for most of my entire life, I felt it was time to so a word of thanks to so many of the gay poets I have enjoyed reading. I hope the poem was a proper homage.

Carolyn Devonshire

Date: 3/21/2021 2:04:00 PM

Wow, I guess I didn't know much about the lives of the poets you mentioned. I have loved Dickinson all my life and never thought she might have been gay. I guess it's not the type of thing they taught in school. Today, gays are making progress in securing their rights. It must have been tough centuries ago. Awesome poem, Milton. Enjoyed! Hugs, Carolyn

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/21/2021 2:10:00 PM

I think sometimes knowing some rather intimate and/or hidden facts about a poet's personal life often helps us understand what they are saying. I found this to be true, anyway. Thanks for the read and the compliment, Carolyn.

Mystic Rose Rose

Date: 3/21/2021 1:48:00 PM

I am sure their poetry writing was their salvation, and the one place where they could truly be themselves. Glad I wasn't born in that era, How lucky we are to own the freedom of self expression with rebuff as in days of old. Thank you Milt for sharing this very important poem.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/21/2021 2:12:00 PM

Thank you, Mystic Rose Rose, for reading it and having a greater appreciation for these poets and something of what they experienced in their personal lives. Sylvia Plath's gruesome suicide is an example of the pain she must have endured. I think you are so right when you said its "the one place where they could truly be themselves."

Leo Larry Amadore

Date: 3/21/2021 11:51:00 AM

Indeed, there have been many, and those you have mentioned were stellar examples. I like your poem.

L Milton Hankins
Date: 3/21/2021 12:00:00 PM

Thanks for the read and the comment, Leo.