Abstract
This consideration of lesbian erotic poetry, from North America and Britain, is a personal one. I am a writer, a lesbian poet, and I shall use this viewpoint to illustrate some aspects of contemporary lesbian erotic poetry.
Us. Yes, us. ‘The naked majesty of god.’1
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Notes
A. Lowell, ‘The Sisters’, in J. Grahn (ed.), The Highest Apple (San Francisco: Spinsters Ink, 1985) p. 57.
A. Lorde, ‘Uses of the Erotic’, in Sister Outsider (New York: The Crossing Press, 1984) p. 55.
J. Clausen, A Movement of Poets: Thoughts on Poetry and Feminism (Brooklyn, NY: Long Haul Press, 1982) p. 7.
A. Lorde, ‘Equinox’, in E. Bulkin and J. Larkin (eds), Lesbian Poetry (Watertown, Mass.: Persephone Press, 1981) p. 22.
J. Grahn, The Work of a Common Woman (London: Onlywomen Press, 1985) p. 123.
Ibid.
C. Halliday, ‘November, 77’, Some Truth, Some Change (London: Onlywomen Press, 1983) p. 15.
J. Jordan, quoted by L. Powell in ‘The Intimate Face of Universal Struggle’, Sinister Wisdom, vol. 20 (1982) p. 69.
A. Weld Grimke, ‘Leaves that whisper whisper ever’; G. T. Hull, ‘“Under the Days”: The Buried Life and Poetry of Angelina Weld Grimke’, Conditions: Five, The Black Women’s Issue (1979) p. 17.
C. Clarke, ‘Living as a Lesbian Underground: Futuristic Fantasy II (for Luisa Valenzuela)’, Serious Pleasure (London: Sheba Feminist Publishers, 1989).
A. Lowenstein, ‘Living in the War Zone’, in L. Mohin (ed.), Beautiful Barbarians (London: Onlywomen Press, 1986) p. 95.
C. Halliday, ‘This Space the Tiger’, in C. McEwen (ed.), Naming the Waves (London: Virago, 1988) p. 77.
O. Broumas, ‘Amazon Twins’, Beginning with O (New Haven, Conn., and London: Yale University Press, 1977) pp. 7–8.
L. Carmichael, ‘Kelly’s Cavern’, in L. Mohin (ed.), One Foot on the Mountain (London: Onlywomen Press, 1979) p. 154.
C. Griffin, ‘Elizabeth’, in B. Burford, L. MacRae and S. Paskin (eds), Dancing the Tightrope (London: Women’s Press, 1987) p. 24.
M. Bruce Pratt, ‘Your Hand Opens Me’, We Say We Love Each Other (San Francisco: Spinster Ink, 1985) p. 67.
Ibid.
A. Rich, ‘North American Time II’, Your Native Land, Your Life (New York: W. W. Norton, 1978) p. 33.
Shabnam, ‘The Women Loving Women’, in D. Choong, O. Cole Wilson, B. Evaristo and G. Pearse (eds), Black Women Talk Poetry (London: Black Womantalk, 1987) p. 111.
A. Rich, ‘Twenty-one Love Poems, III’, The Dream of a Common Language (New York: W. W. Norton, 1978) p. 26.
P. Parker, ‘Metamorphosis’, Womanslaughter (Oakland, Calif.: Diana Press, 1978) p. 29.
M. Duffy, Collected Poems (London: Hamish Hamilton, 1985) p. 109.
H. Ramsbottom, ‘Lesbians and Mothers’, in C. McEwen (ed.), Naming the Waves (London: Virago, 1988) p. 165.
N. Brossard, These our Mothers, trans B. Godard (Canada: Coach House Quebec Translations, 1983) p. 17.
Ibid., p. 13.
Ibid., p. 22.
C. Griffin, ‘Strong Thighs Astride My Chest’, in B. Burford, L. MacRae and S. Paskin (eds), Dancing the Tightrope (London: The Women’s Press, 1987) p. 23.
M. Bruce Pratt, ‘Done’, We Say We Love Each Other (San Francisco: Spinsters Ink, 1985) p. 83.
C. Clarke, ‘great expectations’, Living as a Lesbian (New York: Firebrand Books, 1986) p. 45.
A. Suskin Ostricker, ‘Body Language: The Release of Anatomy’, in Stealing the Language: The Emergence of Women’s Poetry in America (London: The Women’s Press, 1987) p. 108.
M. Yeo, ‘Being Canadian’, in L. Mohin (ed.), Beautiful Barbarians (London: Onlywomen Press, 1986) p. 17.
O. Broumas, ‘Blues/ for J. C.’, Beginning With O (New Haven, Conn., and London: Yale University Press, 1977) p. 53.
J. Grahn, ‘Judith’, The Work of a Common Woman (London: Onlywomen Press, 1978) p. 157.
O. Broumas, ‘She Loves’, Bad Attitude, vol. 2, no. 2 (Spring 1986) p. 16.
J. Grahn, ‘The Psychoanalysis of Edward the Dyke’, Edward the Dyke and Other Poems (Oakland, Calif.: The Women’s Press Collective, 1971).
R. M. Brown, ‘Dancing the Shout to the True Gospel’, The Hand That Cradles The Rock (Baltimore, Md: Diana Press, 1971) p. 39.
A. Lorde and J. Harjo, ‘A Treatise on Loving Ourselves’, Sinister Wisdom, vols. 24 (1900) p. 160.
A. Rich, ‘The problem, unstated till now’, Tracking Poem 18, Your Native Land, Your Life (New York/London: W. W. Norton, 1986) p. 100.
Ibid.
J. Larkin, ‘“Vagina” Sonnet’, in E. Bulkin and J. Larkin (eds), Lesbian Poetry (Watertown, Mass.: Persephone Press, 1981) p. 45.
A. Lorde, ‘Burning the Water Hyacinth’, Our Dead Behind Us (London: Sheba Feminist Publishers, 1986) p. 50.
M. Duffy, ‘Pasiphae’, Evesong (London: Sappho, 1975) p. 22.
P. Parker, ‘My lady ain’t no lady’, Womanslaughter (Baltimore, Md: Diana Press, 1978) p. 34.
M. Hacker, Love, Death and the Changing of the Seasons (London: Onlywomen Press, 1987) p. 72.
A. Rich, ‘Women and Honor: Some Notes on Lying’ (London: Onlywomen Press, 1979).
V. Marko, ‘Socks’, Bad Attitude, vol. 3, no. 1 (Spring 1987) p. 9.
A. Lorde, ‘Uses of the Erotic’, Sister Outsider (New York: The Crossing Press, 1984) p. 58.
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Halliday, C. (1990). ‘The Naked Majesty of God’. In: Lilly, M. (eds) Lesbian and Gay Writing. Insights. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-20837-1_5
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