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americanorgy posted an update in the group
Sex and Literature 9 years, 3 months ago Edmund Wilson, the famous critic, wrote about his threesome with Edna St. Vincent Millay. This came out in his biography. The thing I found most interesting in this particular article is how closely tied sex and writing were for Mr. Wilson. I’d tend to agree with him — the sexual urge and the writing urge are remarkably similar.
Passion For Literature – Chicago TribuneJeffrey Meyers had a traumatic experience on the tennis court recently when his partner, a 30ish lawyer, inquired about the subject of his latest biography. Edmund Wilson, Meyers informed him. “Then…
There is some foundation to your speculation, I can see that. However, we could take it a step further and say that the actual sex was a metaphor for something else entirely, and she was writing about that versus an obvious romp with two men. Couldn’t we? Don’t you find that sex can represent so many different things, Mr. Orgy…
Well, I’m glad that I could at least add some sexual imagery to the poem. I can agree that the poem was a metaphor for something else entirely and your point is well taken.
Thank you for taking it “well.” I’m glad you pointed out its sexual origins, because, well, that’s hot. As an artist, I’ve had a lot of instances in which I write about an event using metaphor, but the purpose of writing about the event was not to chronicle the event itself, but to expound on the universal possibilities and connection within the metaphor of the event. That was my only point. And as my original question posed, I still wonder how you personally view the poem as sexual, not Mr. Wilson nor Ms. Millay. Is it the fact that it may actually be about a threesome? Or do you see more in it that you want to share? This is me, attempting to see what’s behind that devilish mask you wear. xo
I don’t necessarily see the poem as sexual, although I can see that layer, and adding that layer added a lot of depth to the poem for me, in particular because of the Puritanistic thought that sexual forays will burn you out. I love the way Millay perverts the light on the hill metaphor from the new testament — it is wonderfully subversive to me.