by Gregg Rowe
~for Derek Jarman
British film director, painter, gardener, AIDS activist
died, 1989
Gavenston: "What art thou?"
First nude man as he masturbates his partner: "A traveller"
Gavenston: "And, what art thou?"
Second man as he licks the crevice's of his lover's neck: "A soldier"
Gavenston: "There are hospitals for men like you."
He hands the two male whores a sac of coins and dismisses them.
--From the screenplay text: Edward II
sultry erotic dance of
the two men in Edward's courtyard
replaced with showy and shallow
music videos
that are the extension of cinematic language
of this century
a decade so unlike
the pre-molly houses of this century
where Elizabethan men
were permitted to dance
upon a theatre stage
sexuality unquestioned
and sags met
in the King's bedroom
debauchery legal if it included
the head of State
we still pay for sex and
get free blow jobs
in darkened discotheques
under blind eyes
sometimes in the late of the night
serviced in a public washroom
joined in unison
the celebration of a forbidden love
yet the criminality of it
is not as worse as yours
it's the treatment of our kind
where we are more civilized
and refuse to shove a hot poker
up the Kings' ass for sodomy
I have witnessed my friend
being serviced in a washroom
the waltz was ending
last song of the evening
where in a flash
light bulbs would blind us
and bar cockroaches
swarm to cover in the cancerous
walls of the discotheque
stun faces dissolve
to ashen white
he was on his knees
blowing a jock he met
grinding his ass on the dance floor
when my friend John and I walk in
John walks over to them
unzips his jeans and waited
a matter of seconds
after the kid's
sperm spit hit the cement floor
John's now erect cock
disappears down the tunnel
I watched his clad jean buns
thrust and wreath as he came
fulfilling two obligations
it's better we young
should down cocktails
then throw them up
their orgasms linger in the air
slowly evaporate
like that last gaseous bead
in a warm flat beer
jeans buttoned up
an exchange of pecks on their cheeks
solidifies their innocent encounter
smiles brighten up the room
I think of King Edward
the freedom he desired
the opportunity
to love a French commoner
I ask myself
with this perception of change
could I fall in love
again like I did in 1980
riding my cowboy
where love swallowed me up
like Jonah
I never looked at another man
because I had a washboard stomach
a straight acting man -- sag --
at home -- encircled relationship
enveloped with visions of desire
but Jarman and I
are spat back into society
for the last time
by our lovers
I in 1986
after he let himself
shove his hot
infected-poker
up my anus
The sword of Damocles has taken a sideways swipe
John and I split up
leaving the washroom
the kid and the jock
the discotheque
we depart at the corner
of St Catherine and Bluery
I stop at Pharmaprix
bought an agenda for 1987
an over-the-counter-form
to write my will
Author notes
I wrote this poem after seeing the visually remarkable film based on Christopher Marlowe's 16th century play (understudy of Shakespeare) and realized that nothing has changed in the treatment of lesbians and gays in over 400 years, not only with the British Establishment but also with America, and together these two nations would join forces to make one of the oddest unions between leaders we had not seen in some time - Iron Fist Lady Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s AIDS crisis...Derek Jarman uses 20th-century costumes and setting to a 16th-century play and the outcome is one of the best independent films I have viewed in a long time...also just to hear Annie Lennox sing the Cole Porter song 'Ev'ry Time We Say Good-bye' is one unforgettable scene. Transport yourself between two time periods like in the Jarman film. I wrote my final thesis for a Minor in Interdisciplinary Studies of Sexuality on Edward II at Concordia University, Montreal (Quebec)
Molly: in the late 19th-century, gay men met in underground houses to have drinks and hopefully find a partner..there was no sex in the houses just a meeting place...these places became known as Molly Houses and the men who frequented them were Mollies.
sag: Straight Acting Gay
In the 16th century the word gay wasn't even coined: this is a recent 20th century terminology adopted by many communities with different connotations and adopted by several discourses on sexuality, men were frequently 'playful' with another mate and if caught were charged with debauchery.
King Edward II's French lover was Gavenston, exiled from England by Edward I, and later murdered. Edward not only had a sexual relationship with Gavenston, he was married to Queen Isabella and fathered three children, Edward III one of them who would succeed his father to the throne after his death and place Queen Isabella in exile. Edward I was not upset that his son was sleeping with Gavenston, not at all, he was upset because Edward II was giving land and money of England to a French commoner, Edward I was more upset about losing England's treasures than his son's sexuality.
BREIF HISTORIXAL LOOK AT Edward II
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_II_of_England
Edward II, (April 25, 1284- September 21, 1327), of Caernarvon; king of England, the fourth son of Edward I of England by his first wife Eleanor of Castile, was born at Caernarfon Castle.
Edward II was the first English prince to hold the title of the Prince of Wales, which was formalized by the Lincoln Parliament of February 7, 1301. (The story that his father presented Edward II as a newborn to the Welsh as their future native prince is unfounded; the story first appeared in the work of 16th century Welsh "antiquary" David Powel.)
Edward became heir to the throne when he was just a few months old, upon the death of his elder brother Alfonso. His father, a notable military leader, made a point of training young Edward in warfare and statecraft starting in his childhood. The prince took part in several Scots campaigns, but "all his father's efforts could not prevent his acquiring the habits of extravagance and frivolity which he retained all through his life". The king attributed his son's defects to the bad influence of friends such as the Gascon knight Piers Gaveston, and had the favourite exiled.
When Edward I died, on July 7, 1307, the first act of the prince, now King Edward II, was to recall Gaveston. His next was to abandon the Scots campaign on which his father had set his heart.
The new king was physically as impressive as his father. He was, however, lacking in drive and ambition and was "the first king after the Conquest who was not a man of business" (Dr Stubbs). His main interest was in entertainment, though he also took pleasure in athletics and in the practice of mechanical crafts. He had been so dominated by his father that he had little confidence in himself, and was always in the hands of some favourite with a stronger will than his own. In the early years of his reign Gaveston held this role, acting as regent when Edward went to France, where, on January 25, 1308, he married Isabella of France, the daughter of Philip the Fair. Although Edward and his wife had children, the marriage was doomed to failure almost from the beginning. Isabella was neglected by her husband, who spent much of his time with the few friends he shared power with, conspiring on how to limit the powers of the Peerage in order to consolidate his father's legacy for himself, and so appearing to prefer the company of his male favourites. This led to considerable rumours of Edward being homosexual. Their marriage nevertheless produced two sons, Edward, and John of Eltham, earl of Cornwall (1316-1336), and two daughters, Isabella and Joanna (1321-1362), wife of David II of Scotland.
Gaveston received the earldom of Cornwall with the hand of the king's niece, Margaret of Gloucester. The barons grew resentful of Gaveston and twice insisted on his banishment. On each occasion Edward recalled his friend, whereupon the barons, headed by the king's cousin Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, went to war against king and favourite and in 1312 assassinated Gaveston. Edward was not strong enough to avenge his loss. He stood aside, allowing the country to come under the rule of a baronial committee of twenty-one lords ordainers, who, in 1311, had drawn up a series of ordinances, which substituted ordainers for the king as the effective government of the country.
Parliament meant to the new rulers an assembly of barons just as it had done to the opponents of Edward's grandfather, Henry III, in 1258. The commons was excluded. The effect was to transform England from a monarchy to a narrow oligarchy.
During the quarrels between Edward and the "ordainers", Robert the Bruce was steadily re-conquering Scotland. His progress was so great that he had occupied all the fortresses save Stirling, which he besieged. The danger of losing Stirling shamed Edward and the barons into an attempt to retrieve their lost ground. In June 1314 Edward led a huge army into Scotland in the hope of relieving Stirling. On June 24, his ill-disciplined and badly led force was completely defeated by Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn. Henceforth Bruce was sure of his position as king of Scots, and took vengeance for Edward I's activities by devastating the northern counties of England.
Edward II's disgraceful defeat made him more dependent on his barons than ever. Thomas of Lancaster now had an opportunity of saving England from the consequences of the king's incompetence. He had shown some ability as a leader of opposition, but lacked creativity. He was suspected of having made a secret understanding with Bruce, in hopes of keeping the king weak. Before long the opposition split into fiercely contending factions. Under Aymer of Valence, Earl of Pembroke, a middle party arose, which hated Lancaster so much that it supported the king. After 1318, the effect of its influence was to restore Edward to some portion of his authority. However, the king hated Pembroke almost as much as Lancaster, and now found a competent alternative adviser in Hugh le Despenser, a baron of great experience.
Despenser's son, Hugh le Despenser the younger, became a personal friend and favourite, who effectively replaced Gaveston. The fierce hatred which the barons had for the Despensers was equal to their hatred his previous favourite. They were indignant at the privileges Edward lavished upon father and son, especially when the younger Despenser strove to procure for himself the earldom of Gloucester in right of his wife, Edward's niece.
In 1321, the barons met in parliament, and under Lancaster's guidance had Hugh le Despenser and his son banished. This inspired Edward to act. In 1322 he recalled the Despensers from exile, and waged war against the barons on their behalf. Lancaster, defeated at Boroughbridge, was executed at Pontefract. For the next five years the Despensers ruled England. Unlike the ordainers, they took pains to get the Commons on their side, and a parliament held at York in 1322 revoked the ordinances because they encroached upon the rights of the crown. From this time no statute was technically valid unless the Commons had agreed to it. This marks the most important step forward in Edward II's reign. But the rule of the Despensers soon became corrupt. Their first thought was for themselves, and they stirred up universal indignation. In particular, they excited the ill-will of the queen, Isabella of France.
Queen Isabella kept silence until 1325, when she went to France in company with her eldest son, Edward of Windsor, who was sent to do homage for Aquitaine to her brother, Charles IV of France. When her business was over, Isabella declined to return to her husband as long as the Despensers remained his favourites. She formed a liaison with Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, one of the baronial exiles, and in September 1326 landed in Essex accompanied by Mortimer and her son, declaring that she was come to avenge the murder of Lancaster, and to expel the Despensers. Edward's followers deserted him, and on October 2 he fled from London to the west, where he took refuge in the younger Despenser's estates in Glamorgan. His wife followed him, put to death both Despensers, and, after a futile effort to escape by sea, Edward was captured on November 6. He was imprisoned at Kenilworth Castle, and a parliament met at Westminster in January 1327, which chose his son to be king as Edward III. It was thought prudent to compel the captive king to resign the crown, and on January 20 Edward was forced to renounce his office before a committee of the estates.
The government of Isabella and Mortimer was so precarious that they dared not leave the deposed king alive. On April 3 he was secretly removed from Kenilworth and entrusted to the custody of two dependants of Mortimer. After various wanderings he was imprisoned at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire. Every anti-kingly indignity was inflicted upon him, and he was systematically ill-treated in the hope that he would die of disease. When his strong constitution seemed likely to prevail he was secretly put to death on September 21. The popular legend is that his murder was by a red-hot poker thrust up his anus through a hollow tube, considered by his captors as an appropriate punishment for his alleged homosexuality, and which would show no outward signs of violence. It was announced that he had died a natural death, and he was buried in St Peter's Abbey at Gloucester, now the cathedral, where his son afterwards erected a magnificent tomb.
An alternative version of events, which has received little attention from historians, suggests that the body buried at Gloucester is not that of King Edward, but that he was allowed to escape to the Continent and survived many more years.
Following the king's death, the rule of Isabella and Mortimer did not last long. As soon as Edward III came of age, he executed Roger Mortimer, but spared his mother on condition that she leave the court. In 1330, Isabella retired from public life; she died, either at Hertford or at Castle Rising in Norfolk on August 23, 1358.
Written December 18th, 2004
In a list
- Homo-Erotic (Adults Only Please) • next in list
- Gregg's Golden Cups • next in list
- Gregg's Academy Award Movie Poems • next in list
- Pop Culture • next in list
A contest entry
- Films - Poems Inspired By Movies by Death of the Author.
450 points, ended December 15, 2006, 25 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Leave Me Looking For My Words by Ninth-Poet.
475 points, ended December 17, 2006, 32 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
-
interesting
I've never read a historical piece that can applies it reference universally throughout the sands of time. I like the delicate mixture of description to the choices of words and of literal devices
What led you to write this piece based in the area of King Edward the second?
-Keep the ink flowing!
and good luck in the contest!
-Solus McKnight -
I'm sorry this was just too long, it's a good poem and you have profound reasons for writing it, but it's just not what I was looking for. thanks for entering x take care x
-
-
IDid I Misunderstand the Rules
You wrote:
It's just not I was looking for.
At what point did I misunderstand your rules. The plot, the characters, the dual story between the two socities is within the context of what you wanted as stated in your rules:
Basically I want a poem based on a film, it can be any film you like. I have seen a lot of films but if I haven't seen it I want you to describe it to me so I can picture it in my head - I want to read it and think I MUST buy this movie =]. Use the movie name as the title for your poem so I know which one it is (or include it somewhere) =]
I want to be able to understand the plot, feel the emotions and relate to the characters.
If you already have written a poem based on a film then feel free to enter it, I think not allowing prewrites is unfair.
Enlighten me, seems I cannot read English very well.
Gregg
-
-
Gregg, I just want to thank you for once more enlightening me all the way to Elizabethean days
You do know how I personally feel about homosexuality. However I hold little hope that things will change at a more rapid pace than they have up until now 
. For mind-control is flourishing and ruling by fear .Fear of hell for all non-christians, fear of doom by terrorism for all non-christians....and fear of hell and doom for all non-christian, non-heterosexuals .And there is so much power in controlling and ruling by instilling fear in the masses that do not or can no longer think for themselves .And secondly (I am unfamiliar with Canadian taxes), so I can only speak for the country that I am living in now(USA). Making gay marriages legal in all states is a long way off, for government financial reasons as well. That would mean more couples could file taxes jointly, hence less revenue for the government. And that is another reason to frown on homosexuality and make it illegal and sordid. How else could they account for not condoning such unions? So sadly "mollies" are as much a part of the present as they were of the past
I am sorry for making this so lengthy, but my thoughts just sort of spilled out........, so all I want to add now is best wishes in the contest,
much love,
reenie
-
Thankyou for entering, this is lengthly but wonderful! great job! Goodluck.
Melpomene
-
This was completely stunning! I loved your bluntness, all the historical contexts, and your rhythm. Thanks so much for the info in the authors comments, it helped a lot since I had not seen Edward II nor had I studied much about him. It is an amazing concept that I believe we are all aware of, and you dig wa into the controversy! Oh and I never realized Christopher Marlowe wrote a play about it (he;s quite a genius..no wonder after studying under Shakespeare). Anyway, I digress. As I was saying, we all have a certain nastalgis for bygone eras. There is always another time or place that each of us are drawn to. WE picture it as being perhaps kinder or filled with more understanding, or even if it is not, that perhaps the pure magic will work to disconnect us from prejudice. But it is a fact that since humans have been here, and as long as we remain, we will always be possessed by the same emotions, the same feelings and confusions. Your poem very artful portrayed this, among other things. Very artful, and exactly what I was looking for. Good luck in the contest!
Princess -
Incredible
What an excellent, excellent write. I really have nothing constructive to say! You've captured the bleakness of today's treatment and shown how times really have not changed at all. This is fabulous. Thanks for the information, too! -
this was a good poem. It showed how things in the old days and today are not much different. thanks for joining the contest and we'll see how things go.
-
Again, very good indeed! I'm not so sure about your use of the word "innocent" though! Maybe it's irony.
-
Lol this is very interesting indeed. A nice write, looks like you put a lot of work into it. I love it, it's brilliant. Thanks for sharing and keep it up. Best of luck in my contest.
~Lana
-
This is awesome. I love well researched poems. Everything reads better when the person knows what they're talking about
I also loved the raw imagery. No fancy stuff. Just what there is and was and you're right the treatment of gays didn't really change that much even though we like fooling ourselves by saying it changed a lot. Good write and thanks for the info and explanations. I knew some of that stuff but I got some new things from it as well. Thanks for sharing this awesome poem.
-
this is really great I do love how you make it known taht things have not changed. I like this one alot it is a very great inspiring write good luck to you and thank you for entering.
Kelly Sue
-
I would first like to compliment you on how visual, and in your face this was. I felt that I was standing on the far corner of the wall with cockroaches playing on my bare leg, while silently watching this smoking a cigarrete.
I would secondly like to say that it is sad that nothing has really changed in 400 years. I look at how far African Americans came, and like the issue in this poem. Only small babysteps. Well, in the U.S. A few states have legalize same sex marriages. I know. Only babysteps.
On another note, I am sorry Gregg. I just haven't been or had time to comment on your poems of late. I am going to take the time. After I get caught up on my favorite list, I am going to get me a cup of coffee and explore your volumes of poetry. Ciao my friend.
-
Gregg,
Once again you've outdone yourself. It is sad that within 400 years things haven't really changed. Perhaps some day things will change...but it does not seem it will happen anytime soon. However, that does not change my mind on my sexuality. I am very glad to be a 19 year old bisexual woman, living with my 25 year old girlfriend. Things are great and I wouldn't change them to go with society. Great peice as always, Gregg.
Michelle
-
Brilliant
Wonderful allusionary (did I just make up a word; I think I did =P) aspects to this poem, I have to say, and very informative at that. I was intrigued to read about gays in Elizabethan society; retrospectivlly, it gives me new insight into gay society.
As for the poem--fantastic, as always. Nice twist in showing the comparisons of our times to that of Edward II's; you executed this seamlessly, transitioning smoothly with the use of some very gripping metaphors. Also, I have to say that I wasn't quite expecting homo-erotica, but I do have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. =) -
please just accept my applause tonight gregg ~ a tad under the weather i fear ~ but this was wonderful xxx
elaine
-
Dear Gregg,
I was halfway through reading the first part of this before I realised that it was unfitting for me, as a Chaplain, to be reading it on a Sunday! There you are - another prejudice!
However, having got thus far, there was no turning back, in fact
I was compelled to read on and most rewarding I found it.
I must commend you especially on the amazingly detailed and lengthy historical write which would be worthy of any tome on the history of these Edwards (another prejudice prevents me from using the term 'Edwardian' which refers only to the age of Edward VII). Anyway, I applaud your 'poem' and especially your extremely fine essay and wish you best of luck in the contest which, if judged for length, you should win hands down. Regards, Hugh.
Edited on Dec 19, 3:07 because ''. -
Wow this is one of the most powerful poems I've read in a long time. This was awesome and it is not just one of those comments that are there, but this piece truly touched my heart and I could feel the emotion (To the best of my abilities, being female and all
). Great write and good luck.
-
This was wonderful! The comparison between now and then and the splitting between two centuries, yet conveying that things haven't changed was great. I think that this is a truly amazing piece, and all the information you provided was wonderful.
-
wow.this is an amazing piece.you certainly did your research well.good luck in the contest.this is a winner.
-
Ah..Edward II is a pet subject of mine for research. The Marlowe play was performed at the Crucible in Sheffield last year. Interesting parallel you made between the nature of Edward's torture and resulting death and AIDS.I shall have to read your poem a few more times, and ponder on that one. Edward II was murdered in 1327, Marlowe wrote the play in 1593. The history of acceptance/unacceptance of homosexuality throughout the centuries, certainly in English society, culture and law and the reasons thereof make for an eye-opening study. Good luck in the contest.
-
This was really cool! I have never read a poem from a screen play, way cool! Good luck in all yrou future endovers(spelled wrong I know
) And happy holidays to you.
-April
-
it's fine!
-
I was hoping that this would fit in the context of your contest, the only way I could see it was under write about prejudices you have experienced...I took that topic but expanded on it to cover over 400 years of prejudices in what I term The Establishments. If after all, you find it does not suit this contest, I will not be offended because I have more of these in my head but they are fighting with my muse to come out (excuse the pun) on paper.
Edited on Dec 18, 3:09 p.m. because ''. -
Wow! Informative and emotive, thanks for entering! Great write because it was so powerful.
Keep writing, this was amazing,
All the best,
Pozo -
This is wonderful Gregg, you intertwined your life with history (or Shakespeare in essence) and brought all about nicely. This is an excellent piece. Good luck in the contest
~~Jessica Erin
Adding your comment:
1 - 26 of 26
11 old applause
