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Summary feminine gospels
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feminine gospels poems
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This line represents the
unacceptance of gay marriage Time is often seen as relative in
White writing and how there is no Duffy’s poems (see “Hour” and
opportunity for them to wed.- “A Dreaming Week”). Here,
Duffy= homosexual they are potentially saying years
the constant repetition of this line shows fly past in what seems like hours
that the narrator is trying to make the – time flies when you’re having
audience realise that love is pure and No vows written to wed you, fun? Alternatively, the hours
harmless – the connotations of white I write them white, they spend together are full, so
the repetition could also show that the my lips on yours, they feel as deep and
relationship has no end and remains light in the soft hours of our married years. meaningful as years.
constantly pure throughout the poem
this can also infer the idea that women’s
words were overlooked, as if they were The poem begins, as each first line of each stanza, with a declaration of
invisible due to the patriarchal society in what their (Duffy + Kay’s) relationship is not. The first example of these is
which we live in. ‘No vows written to wed you’, with Duffy not being able to marry due to
the use of ‘i’ can also imply that anyone the anti-LGBT marriage laws within the UK at the time of writing. Although
can write these rules and it necessarily Duffy is excluded from marriage, she suggests that the experience of ‘my
does not have to be a man who is in lips on yours’ has been just as magical. Duffy follows this structure
higher authority. throughout most of the poem, offering something that the relationship
lacked and then showing how the experiences they have lived together
made up for not having that thing.
The anaphoric line ‘I write them write’ chimes six times within the poem, one in each stanza. The quality of
‘white’ is polysemous within the poem. On one hand, it suggests a level of purity and joy, ‘white’ often being
associated with light and happiness. Yet, ‘white’, in regards to ‘writing’ is something that would not show up
on paper, something hidden and under the surface. This, of course, is describing the nature of a lesbian
relationship in a time in which lesbian relationships were not totally accepted within society. Writing in ‘white’
means that Duffy is keeping her relationship partially hidden, only her lover knowing the true extent of their
adventures together.
The description of ‘soft hours’ spent together furthers the beauty of the time they have had. Duffy’s use of
‘soft’ suggests a certain delicacy, caring greatly for her lover.
No prayers written to bless you, Could link to how very old
I write them white, fashioned and traditional
your soul a flame, forms of religions view being
bright in the window of your maiden name. gay as a sin.
Lots of possible connotations here. This
The description of Duffy’s lover is exited into the second stanza, her ‘soul’
could imply that while the traditional
being described as ‘a flame’. Duffy’s ‘flame’ bears connotations of passion
views of religions have been seen as
and excitement, the poet stating that these are qualities she associates
sending them to hell, their soul itself is a
with her lover. One could argue there is a constant presence of the
flame, bringing light and warmth.
semantics of light, ‘flame’ and the following word, ‘bright’, both
compounding a sense of beautiful light – this, again, signalling the
Also, this could be a homonym for
happiness of their relationship.
“aflame”, as in on fire, suggesting the
burning love and desire they feel for each
other.
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No laws written to guard you,
I write them white,
your hand in mine,
palm against palm, lifeline, heartline.
Duffy’s use of ‘palm against palm’ could be understood as a reference to Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Juliet, during the shared sonnet which many argue is one of the most romantic moments in English literature,
states “palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.”, signaling the romance that can be conveyed through holding
hands. Duffy, in connecting with an iconic story of heterosexual love, demonstrates how her lesbian
relationship is no different. Both are equal in terms of love and deserve to be treated as so.
metaphor – this can refer that words have
been spoken by society have no meaning,
but also imagery illustrates how these
No rules written to guide you, meaningless words only fly away when the
I write them white, wind blows
words on the wind,
traced with a stick where we walk on the sand.
it is within the fourth stanza that Duffy begins to frequently use transient images. Although ‘flame’ could be
argued as temporary, the description of ‘words on the wind’ demonstrates the momentary nature of their
relationship. Not documented in any legal case, Duffy suggests that these moments they spend will only be
kept in memory, eventually blown away like ‘words on the wind’. Duffy then extends this idea, focusing on
words ‘traced’ in ‘sand’, another image which will be removed from existence. Duffy states that they are living
for the moment, enjoying everything as it comes and not holding back from their love.
No news written to tell you,
I write it white,
foam on a wave
as we lift up our skirts in the sea, wade,
Throughout the poem, Duffy continually places ‘you’ and ‘I’ near each other, one ending the first line of each
stanza and the other beginning the second. In doing this, Duffy implies the close relationship that the lovers
have, signalling their passionate partnership.
Duffy focuses again on the idea of things not lasting forever, implying transience through her use of ‘foam on a
wave’, both ‘foam’ and ‘wave’ being transitory images. The final stanza reflects a similar idea, Duffy focusing
on the ‘moonlight’ and ‘gold sun’ to show the fading of the day. Nothing lasts forever, but Duffy will make the
most of her relationship while it does.
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