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ENG 210 Love & Desire

The works of art had played a significant role in the history of men loving men or women

loving women, from the time when homosexuality, lesbianism, and gay love were considered

forbidden to the present laws and attitudes which recognize the same. “Love Poem to a Butch

Woman” and “Brokeback Mountain” are two literary works that illustrate diverse incarnations of

contemporary LGBTQ love. They also represent the issues that LGBT people deal with

frequently. The 1960s saw the creation of “Brokeback Mountain,” while the 1990s saw the

creation of “Love Poem to a Butch Woman.” The two works of art present two very different and

distinct worlds. “Love Poem to a Butch Woman” speaks to the modern acceptance of same-sex

relationships, whereas “Brokeback Mountain” focuses on the struggles and difficulties of being a

part of a same-sex relationship in a time when it is still considered to be taboo. The contrast

between the two works illustrates the progress made in society’s attitudes toward same-sex

relationships.

Deborah A. Miranda’s poem, “Love Poem to a Butch Woman,” is a powerful exploration

of love between two women. Miranda celebrates the beauty of same-sex relationships and

challenges the societal taboos surrounding them. In the poem, Miranda uses a persona of her

desire to create and nurture a child with her beloved: “I want to draw the egg/from your womb

and nourish it in my own” (Miranda). This is a bold statement, as it not only rejects the

traditional notion of a heterosexual couple as the only way to produce a child but also celebrates
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the power of same-sex love. Her use of language further emphasizes her devotion to her lover:

“Sweetheart, this is how it is:/when you emerge from the bedroom/in a clean cotton shirt, sleeves

pushed back/over forearms, scented with cologne/from an amber bottle—I want to open/my

heart, the brightest aching slit/of my soul, receive your pearl” (Miranda). The poet’s use of

imagery and her passionate language conveys her deep admiration for her lover and commitment

to their relationship. Through this poem, Miranda celebrates the beauty of same-sex relationships

and is in some way seen as encouragement to the readers and society to accept them without

judgment.

In contrast, “Brokeback Mountain” focuses on the struggles of being in a same-sex

relationship when it was still considered taboo. The story follows the two main characters, Ennis

and Jack, as they struggle to keep their relationship a secret due to their fear of the judgment of

the people around them. Proulx writes: “They had no words for what they had–no way to define

the strange and powerful emotion that held them together, that drew them back to each other year

after year.” This quote speaks to the difficulty of the situation that Ennis and Jack find

themselves in, as they cannot express their emotions for each other. It reflects a society that

considered same-sex relationships taboo. From the beginning, Jack and Ennis are aware of the

societal taboos surrounding their love. For example, Ennis tells Jack, “If you can’t fix it so we

can be together, you better forget about me because I can’t stand the pain” (Proulx). In the 1960s,

when the story takes place, homosexual relationships were still largely a taboo and even illegal in

some places. Jack and Ennis are unable to express their love for one another openly. Such shows

that laws and society’s attitudes towards homosexuality, lesbianism, and gay love were not yet

accommodating.
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In today’s America, attitudes towards homosexuality, lesbianism, and gay love are much

more accepting than in the past. Same-sex couples can now marry as they wish, and anti-

discrimination laws have been passed to protect the rights of LGBT individuals. Society has

come a long way from the days of discrimination and oppression. Thanks to the works of

Miranda and Proulx, which could be seen as an eye-opener, same-sex relationships are now seen

as something to be accepted and celebrated.

The contrast between “Love Poem to a Butch Woman” and “Brokeback Mountain”

illustrates the progress that has been made in society’s attitudes towards same-sex relationships.

“Love Poem to a Butch Woman” speaks to the modern acceptance of same-sex relationships,

where couples can express their love openly and without fear of judgment or rejection. On the

other hand, “Brokeback Mountain” speaks to the struggles of being in a same-sex relationship

when it was still considered taboo. The two pieces' differences illustrate how opinions regarding

same-sex partnerships have evolved from being frowned upon to being welcomed and praised.
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Works Cited

Miranda, Deborah A. “Love Poem to a Butch Woman.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation,

www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/57383/love-poem-to-a-butch-woman.

Proulx, Annie. “Brokeback Mountain.” The New Yorker, The New Yorker, 8 Oct. 1997,

www.newyorker.com/magazine/1997/10/13/brokeback-mountain.