A poem beyond its time, “Sex without
Love” is an artfully written work of art that contrasts between mental and
emotional connectivity. With prostitution
being the eldest profession known to man, sex is unquestionably a part of human
nature. Poet Sharon Olds speaks with profundity
between the impulsive loveless sex humans are so eagerly attracted to versus
making love with your life-partner. She describes the lustful sex as “wet as
the / children at birth whose mothers are going to / give them away. How do
they come to the / come to the come to the God come to the / still waters, and
not love / the one who came there with them, light/ rising slowly as steam off
their joined / skin?”
Typically,
mothers who give their children away have little to no connection with the baby’s
father and were conceived out of wedlock.
With today’s sexual liberation and freedom to fornicate outside of
marriage without fear of ridicule, these scenarios are becoming more prevalent
in our culture. She describes the orgasm
like taking a trip to heaven and questions how one could experience that
without loving their partner. It is
especially relevant in today’s society and her perspective should be
appreciated. To minimize the removal of
children from their biological parents and families being torn apart, she
brings her view into light in hopes of catching the attention of people that so
willingly participate in risky loveless sex.
