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Posted by Moderator on November 26, 1996 at 21:24:31:
From cust30.max19.new-york.ny.ms.uu.net

In Reply to: Re: Great Britain's Most Banned Poem posted by jerry on November 26, 1996 at 16:24:44:

: : Censorship in Britain

: : This poem by James Kirkup has been
: : banned by the courts from publication in
: : Britain

: : (On the grounds of blasphemy, so please don't read
: : it if that's likely to upset you.

: : James Kirkup poem 'The Love That Dares To Speak Its Name'

: Wasn't it Voltaire that said, 'I may disagree with what you say
: but will fight to the death your right to say it'
: I'm afraid this stretches it to the limit for me.

Stretching, limitations. Perhaps the author of the most banned poem is leaping too far. But let's enjoy one who leaps off any point. Low or high. It's the leaping, and the dangers he embraced.

I am tempted to upload Sharon Old's description of The Pope's Penis here---

The Pope's Penis

It hangs deep in his robes, a delicate
clapper at the center of a bell.
It moves when he moves, a ghostly fish in a
halo of silver seaweed, the hair
swaying in the dark and the heat - and at night,
while his eyes sleep, it stands up
in praise of God.
----- Sharon Olds

It's good to have someone like the author(s) heterosexual or not--- who go tumbling over the edge. And land on their feet, singing.

Perhaps takes us by surprise. Or drags us with him or her. Good for him or her. And even better for those who like the shaking up. The landing, the cracking of one's skull on the tender words.





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