Contrary to the title, this poem has nothing to do with sex.
The poem is all over the place- figure skaters, steak, runners, cardiovascular health, universe- yet it has one simple message.
The poem uses language to disguise its meaning of the poet's feelings on religion and God. Olds is flabbergasted by the people who have "sex without love", the people who "love the priestinstead of hte God" and other falsehoods of religion. The language alludes to the "wine" (communion) and the "wet as the children at birth" (baptism), which are both common religious practices among churches. The languge is consistant about the authors discontent about how people can go through the motions, go through the religious practices, without the accual love for their religion.
I believe that her refferences to common instances is an attempt to make her language and poem relateable. God preaching poetry is becomming more and more uncommon as people are exploring many aspects of religion, spirituality, or the lack of it.
Shape--> "My Body"
15 years ago
2 comments:
I agree the author is confused over the two topics of religion and sex. The language Olds uses is very metaphorical, "faces as red as steak, wine". But these metaphorical observations of lovers and sex, conflict throughout the poem with tough questions over both sex and religion. Ex: "love the priest instead of the God" compares to sex without love, the speaker isn't convinced someone can have one without the other. Throughout the poem, the tone is very conflicted and confused over both subjects.
It's definitely possible to interpret this as the asking of an age old question: sex without love. Even without the layers of interpretation, this is still a great poem in its use of metaphors and symbols to describe lovers. Like the ice as the lovers glide over it, the cold ice symbolizing their lack of feeling.
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