Sexual and sensual desire poetry is a genre that explores the complex and nuanced aspects of human sexuality and desire. These poems often use imagery and metaphor to convey the physical and emotional experiences of desire, as well as the social and cultural contexts in which it takes place.
One of the most famous poets associated with this genre is John Donne, who wrote during the early 17th century. Donne’s poetry is renowned for its use of wit, irony, and metaphor, and many of his poems deal with the theme of sexual desire. In “The Flea,” for example, Donne uses the imagery of a flea biting both himself and his lover to argue that their union in the flea’s body is a small but significant step towards full sexual union. Similarly, in “The Sun Rising,” Donne addresses the sun as if it were a person, telling it to go away and leave him and his lover alone, so that they can enjoy their private moment together.
Another famous poet associated with sexual and sensual desire poetry is Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who wrote during the 19th century. Barrett Browning’s poetry is often characterized by its intensity and passion, and many of her poems deal with the theme of love and desire. In “How Do I Love Thee?” for example, the speaker reflects on the depth and intensity of her love for her partner, using erotic imagery to convey the physical and emotional aspects of desire.
T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” is a 20th century masterpiece, which reflects on the speaker’s inadequacies and inability to express his desire for a woman he is attracted to. The poem is a narrative of a man’s inner thoughts, who is struggling with feelings of insecurity and self-doubt, as he contemplates approaching a woman he is attracted to. The poem also explores the theme of sexual desire, as the speaker reflects on the physical and emotional aspects of desire, as well as the social and cultural contexts in which it takes place.
In Lord Byron’s “She Walks in Beauty,” the speaker reflects on a woman’s beauty and how it inspires feelings of love and desire. The poem uses imagery and metaphor to convey the physical and emotional aspects of desire, as well as the social and cultural contexts in which it takes place. The poem is a celebration of beauty, and it is a tribute to the powerful effect that beauty can have on human emotions and desires.
In conclusion, sexual and sensual desire poetry is a genre that explores the complex and nuanced aspects of human sexuality and desire. These poems often use imagery and metaphor to convey the physical and emotional experiences of desire, as well as the social and cultural contexts in which it takes place. Poets like John Donne, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, T.S. Eliot, and Lord Byron have all contributed to this genre, creating works that are renowned for their wit, passion, and insight into the human condition.
In My first book ‘Every Wish & Every Tear‘ I write poetry in this genre.