Allen Ginsberg

Today I would like to write about Allen Ginsberg's "Sphincter". This poem is only twenty lines but some of the most disturbing twenty lines I have ever read. The title its self means "Ringlinke muscle that maintains costriction of an orifice, such as the anus". That was the first distrubing thing I cam upon right off that bat. I did read in the biography that Ginsberg was in fact homosexual, but little did I know how explicit he was. I chose this poem because it was taking me outside of my comfort zone. I come from a very small town where homosexuality is not only frowned upon but it just is much heard of either. While reading this poem I got the sence of a very proud homosexual who is not afraid to talk about personal things such as his "asshole" or "hemorrhoids". He even goes as far to talk about AIDs and how he is afraid of them but it does not stop him from having anal sex. I am curious as to how his lovers or past sexual relations felt about this poem. I am sure they knew he was explicit about his sexuality but did they know he was this proud of preforming anal sex. It also make me question if all homosexuals are like this. I am glad I read this poem just to get a taste of what homosexuality is really all about. Although it took me outside of my comfort zone it also brought be a great insight about Allen Ginsberg.