Customer Reviews

Living As a Lesbian: Poetry

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"Living As a Lesbian" is a stunning collection of poetry by Cheryl Clarke. As the title indicates, much of the book's content revolves around loving and surviving as a lesbian in the 20th century. Clarke also writes about racism and injustice, and reflects upon the people and events of her world. Much of the book has a gritty, urban flavor to it.

In the poem "wearing my cap backwards," Clarke writes, "poets are among the first witches / so suffer none to live." This sets the tone for her poetic style: edgy, dangerous, and allied with the most marginalized elements of society. As she explores her subjects--lesbian sex, racially biased courtrooms, recreational drug use, road kill, and more--Clarke uses language that is alternatingly lusty, playful, profane, enraged, and/or outraged.

Some of the most memorable selections from "Living As a Lesbian" include "living as a lesbian on the make," which narrates the adventure of a lesbian in a "straight" bar; "Indira," an irony-laden reflection on the life and public image of Indian leader Indira Gandhi; and "sexual preference," a humorous meditation on lesbian sexual practices.

As Clarke spins her poetic webs, she ensnares many public figures: Jesse Jackson, Anita Bryant, Vanessa Williams, and more. Her vision is international, multi-cultural, and unbound by time: "i hear a marimba player chanting / her slave song in portuguese" (from "marimba"). As in her other books, Clarke finds a wealth of inspiration in African-American culture and history.

In the poem entitled "living as a lesbian underground: a futuristic fantasy," Clarke writes, "Leave signs of struggle. / Leave signs of triumph." This book, along with Clarke's other volumes of poetry, contains powerful signs of both struggle and triumph on the part of a remarkable poet.

What a lousy work! Talk about amateurish, boring, and pessimistic. There are kindergartners who could make better poetry. Why did I waste any time and energy on this?! This was like sniffing limburger. So angry and unenligtening and tedious, why would poetry lovers even go here!? I'm sticking to Essex Hemphill, Maya Angelou, Audre Lorde, and many other fine poets. But this mess!? No way! Talk about not doing the trick and failing miserably!

I have to say that I was disappointed by the poetry in this collection. I thought I would like to write poetry and i wanted to read more about the lesbian lifestlye. All of the poems did not relate to lesbians, and the stly of writing did nothing for me. Possibly, I am not cultured enough or old enough to enjoy it.