Poetry has long served as a powerful medium for expressing love, desire, and the complexities of human emotions. Throughout history, several renowned poets have explored the depths of lesbian love, often challenging societal norms and offering a unique perspective on female relationships. In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to six iconic lesbian poems that celebrate love, passion, and the beauty of female desire. Discover these timeless masterpieces and appreciate the artistry that captures the essence of lesbian love and experiences.
1. “Sappho 31” by Sappho
The ancient Greek poet Sappho is widely regarded as one of the earliest and most influential lesbian poets. Her poem “Sappho 31” is a passionate expression of love and desire for another woman. The poem’s imagery and intensity have captivated readers for centuries, making it a seminal work in lesbian poetry.
translation by Anne Carson:
He seems to me equal to the gods that man whoever he is who opposite you sits and listens close to your sweet speaking and lovely laughing—oh it puts the heart in my chest on wings for when I look at you, even a moment, no speaking is left in me no: tongue breaks and thin fire is racing under skin and in eyes no sight and drumming fills ears and cold sweat holds me and shaking grips me all, greener than grass I am and dead—or almost I seem to me.
2. “Goblin Market” by Christina Rossetti
This enchanting narrative poem by Christina Rossetti tells the story of two sisters, Laura and Lizzie, who encounter goblin merchants selling forbidden fruits. While not explicitly about a romantic relationship, the poem’s sensual language and the bond between the sisters have led many to interpret it as an exploration of lesbian desire and sisterly love.
This poem is too long to be included here, but you can find the full text at the following link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44996/goblin-market
3. “Having a Coke with You” by Frank O’Hara
Frank O’Hara’s “Having a Coke with You” is a playful and tender expression of love and admiration for another person. Although O’Hara was a gay man, the poem’s gender-neutral language has made it a favorite among lesbian readers who find resonance in its celebration of love and intimacy.
Having a Coke with you is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne or being sick to my stomach on the Traversera de Gracia in Barcelona partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary it is hard to believe when I'm with you that there can be anything as still as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it in the warm New York 4 o'clock light we are drifting back and forth between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles
4. “To a Lady” by Aphra Behn
Aphra Behn, a 17th-century English playwright and poet, boldly explores the depths of female desire in her poem “To a Lady.” The poem’s passionate language and daring portrayal of love between women make it an essential work in the canon of lesbian poetry.
Love, thou art best of Human Joys, Our chiefest Happiness below; All other Pleasures are but Toys, Musick, and Poetry compar'd with you, The sublimated parts of love refin'd, And in th' conjunction of our Bodies, join'd.
5. “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop
In “One Art,” Elizabeth Bishop reflects on the pain of loss and the art of letting go. Although the poem does not explicitly mention lesbian relationships, it is widely believed to be inspired by Bishop’s own experiences with love and loss in her relationships with women.
The art of losing isn't hard to master; so many things seem filled with the intent to be lost that their loss is no disaster. Lose something every day. Accept the fluster of lost door keys, the hour badly spent. The art of losing isn't hard to master.
6. “Wild Nights! Wild Nights!” by Emily Dickinson
This passionate and exuberant poem by Emily Dickinson captures the intensity of desire and longing for a lover. While the poem’s subject is not explicitly female, many readers and scholars have interpreted the poem as a celebration of lesbian love due to its passionate language and imagery.
Wild Nights – Wild Nights! Were I with thee Wild Nights should be Our luxury! Futile – the winds – To a heart in port – Done with the compass – Done with the chart! Rowing in Eden – Ah, the sea! Might I moor – Tonight – In thee!
These six iconic lesbian poems offer a glimpse into the diverse and powerful ways in which love, desire, and female relationships have been celebrated and explored through the medium of poetry. By reading and appreciating these works, we honor the voices and experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history and continue to foster a deeper understanding of love in all its forms.