I have NO idea what this poem means. Nor the time to bother trying. But I will say, after two reads, that it's hella gay. The diction just yells it from the rooftops.

So whatever it means, it's probably about that. Bottomfish has good gaydar.

CM

I did not top post this because it represents any opinion I share.

For what it's worth at least as of the writing of the article in this link, Biespel was long time married with children and living in Oregon.. <link>

That doesn't preclude BF's reading of the poem, but if we are assuming that it takes one to know one, take it from me that this poem is NOT hella gay.

falcon, I hope you do not take the liberty of topposting one of my inside comments. (which is another way of saying that I think the only person who should toppost one of Cutter's inside posts is Cutter himself)

just sayin'............

MA

I am certain there would never be reason to do so.

For some reason I am reminded of Gracie Allen’s 1940 Presidential Campaign. “When Ken Murray on The Texaco Star Theatre asked with which party Gracie was affiliated, she heatedly retorted, “I may take a drink now and then, but I never get affiliated.”

I miss Gracie Allen. She was so funny.

This one reminded me of Palin: “Asked if she would recognize Russia, Gracie showed uncharacteristic hesitation: “I don’t know. I meet so many people….”

(I sometimes drink to affiliation, myself).

Duh, I'm drawing a blank here -- what does "hella gay" mean? It is some secret password you under-35 types use to confuse the rest of us????

: - (

MA

MA-

I had to look up "hella". I am hella familiar with "gay".

Hella seems to mean very in its adverbial form, and very damn good as an adjective.

And some of us over-50 types who watch South Park.

At Cafe Flore, on Market near Castro. Harold Norse, as usual, holding court at a table surrounded by handsome young men. I hear him respond to one: "No, you've got that backwards. Auden is a Gay Major poet."

I did not know Auden was in the military. (Though I did not ask and he did not tell). That is hecka interesting.

Thanks, SavoryGee. After reading your post, I went to the Urb an Dictionary, where I learned that "hella" is to San Francisco as "wicked" is to Boston. But since Cutter is originally from Philly and now lives in Delaware (where?), I guess he watches South Park. And it's obvious I don't. Anyway, my fave definition of "hella" on the Urban Dictionary was this one -- Term used to indicate personal superiority. When spoken in conversation, the receiving party immediatley knows that the person saying the word is of a high class because of that person's NorCal roots.
Thusly, if the receiver is not of the same geography and stature, negative emotions arise from envy. A primary example is that of the frustrated SoCal dweller who is frequently subjected to the mighty and humbling presence of NorCalers.
Alternatively, Hella can alert other prestigious NorCalers that they are dealing with a higher species much like themselves. NorCaler: "That was Hella cool!"
SoCaler: "Huh? Wha? Hella? That sounds dumb."
NorCaler: "No sir. You sir are Hella dumb. Good day."
SoCaler: "Oh yah. You're...dumbererer. Keanu rules!!"

HAP's use of "hecka" is authentically Sunday-around-the-grownups in my neighborhood.

I was just pretending I knew what it meant and hoping no one would notice. I thought it might have something to do with being Hellenistic.