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Comment 14 of 14, added on March 30th, 2009 at 4:14 PM.
Yes, Elizabeth Bishop may have been in love with women, but that does not necessarily make this a "lesbian" poem. The poet is in love, but she can't be with the one she wants to be with the most.
Laura from United States
Comment 13 of 14, added on October 24th, 2008 at 12:42 AM.
I agree with what Francis said about not reading this as a "lesbian" poem. Bishop is known for being unlike other modernist contemporary poets, who wrote in the "personal event confessional" style, such as Lowell. While obviously, she did incorporate her own feelings/experiences, her emotions portrayed in her poems are subtle enough that these poems really can relate to anyone.
Elaine from United States
Comment 12 of 14, added on October 8th, 2008 at 6:33 AM.
To be in a minority of any kind is to feel remote from the Universe, that is, the universe of one's social group. You may tell that universe to go to hell, but it will not, because it is stronger than you. It may say "It's OK, we understand your position" but it doesn't and you have to walk a precarious (left is right) line all the time, because that universe will break out any time and wreak its revenge on you for being different.
Kevin from United Kingdom
Comment 11 of 14, added on May 30th, 2008 at 1:12 PM.
I'm hoping to cite this poem for a research paper and I was wondering if anyone could tell me what book this was originally published in and when the book was published. Please and thank you!
Alexandra from United States
Comment 10 of 14, added on December 30th, 2007 at 6:55 PM.
I'd caution against reading this as a "lesbian" poem. Yes, perhaps for Bishop it did refer to her homosexuality, but to define a poem as any one thing is dangerous and, imho, foolish. This poem can speak to a heterosexual person as much as a homosexual.
Francis Sohn from United States
Comment 9 of 14, added on April 11th, 2007 at 10:49 PM.
I can only say Thank you for your commments because my assignment is due in two days! THANKS!!
Ed from Canada
Comment 8 of 14, added on March 9th, 2007 at 9:05 PM.
That really helps with my assignment on this poem for my high school english class. Thank you
MT from United States
Comment 7 of 14, added on January 4th, 2007 at 9:13 AM.
U actually helped my with my class assignment.. thanks a bunch... :-)
cb from United States
Comment 6 of 14, added on November 19th, 2005 at 11:53 AM.
Jodie is right. The speaker in this poem is a woman who is in love with another woman. This is indicated not just by the daytime sleeping but by the word inverted which actually used to be used to indicate "homosexual". Due to the homophobia of the times their love could not be acknowledged by the "light of day", hence the insomnia.
Sue from Canada
Comment 5 of 14, added on October 12th, 2005 at 6:07 PM.
Elizabeth Bishop was a well known closet lesbian, and the poem is about her internal struggles. This is seen when she talks about being a daytime sleeper, as in she is the opposite of everyone else. In the third stanza she talks about wishing the world was inverted so that everyone else would be like her.
Jodie from Canada
This poem has been commented on more than 10 times. Click below to see the other comments.
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Yes, Elizabeth Bishop may have been in love with women, but that does not necessarily make this a "lesbian" poem. The poet is in love, but she can't be with the one she wants to be with the most.
Laura from United States