Gay the poet, witty the poem

Today reports netizens are trying to identify a video which a minister accused the opposition Singapore Democratic Party of “suppressing”. Some think it’s a video where the party’s assistant treasurer Vincent Wijeysingha is introduced as “the first (possible) gay MP in Singapore”, says Today.

The newspaper could not confirm whether the minister, Vivian Balakrishnan, was referring to that video. But as Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, he funded an organization trying to help gays go straight.

Wikipedia says:

In January 2006 the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) granted S$100,000 (US$61,500) to Liberty League, an organisation affiliated with the so- called ex-gay movement which “promotes gender and sexual health for the individual, family and society”.

Liberty League has its own website.

The only reason I am referring to this is, today is the birthday of James Fenton. Here’s one of his poems I particularly like. See if you like it, too.

In Paris With You

Don’t talk to me of love. I’ve had an earful
And I get tearful when I’ve downed a drink or two.
I’m one of your talking wounded
I’m a hostage. I’m maroonded.
But I’m in Paris with you.
Yes I’m angry at the way I’ve been bamboozled
And resentful at the mess that I’ve been through
I admit I’m on the rebound
And I don’t care where are we bound.
I’m in Paris with you.
Do you mind if we do not go to the Louvre,
If we say sod off to sodding Notre Dame,
If we skip the Champs Elysees
And remain here in this sleazy
Old hotel room
Doing this and that
To what and whom
Learning who you are,
Learning what I am.
Don’t talk to me of love. Let’s talk of Paris,
The little bit of Paris in our view.
There’s that crack across the ceiling
And the hotel walls are peeling
And I’m in Paris with you.
Don’t talk to me of love. Let’s talk of Paris.
I’m in Paris with the slightest thing you do.
I’m in Paris with your eyes, your mouth,
I’m in Paris with… all points south.
Am I embarrassing you?
I’m in Paris with you.

Isn’t it witty and playful? Maybe the last three lines are a little too naughty. What does “all points south” mean, hmm?

James Fenton is gay. But do you have to be gay (I am not) to enjoy this poem? Can you even tell he is gay from reading the poem?

It’s more naughty, but not very different in spirit, from a famous love poem by John Donne, who was not gay. In The Good-Morrow, Donne also celebrates the joys of bedroom sex. “Love makes … one room an everywhere,” he claims, just as Fenton wants to stay in his hotel room with his lover.

The difference, of course, is Fenton is gay, Donne isn’t. The underlying emotions, however, are the same: the need to love and be loved.

Only time will tell whether a “gay MP” can be elected in Singapore.

Peter Mandelson, who is gay, was one of Tony Blair’s closest advisers and also served as a European commissioner.

You can read The Good-Morrow here and listen to James Fenton reading In Paris With You on The Poetry Archive. I also enjoyed reading his An Introduction To English Poetry, a slim, little book.