The New Yorker Radio Hour: “Super Gay Poems” Episode Summary
Introduction
In the July 1, 2025 episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour, titled “Super Gay Poems,” host David Remnick engages in an insightful conversation with Stephanie Burt, a renowned professor and literary critic from The New Yorker. Stephanie Burt has curated an anthology named Super Gay Poems, which celebrates LGBTQ poetry spanning from the aftermath of the Stonewall uprising in 1969 to the present day. The episode delves into the selection of poems, the representation of queer lives, and the evolving landscape of LGBTQ poetry.
Stephanie Burt’s Super Gay Poems
Stephanie Burt introduces Super Gay Poems as a comprehensive collection that highlights the diverse experiences and emotions within the LGBTQ community. She emphasizes the anthology's aim to make various emotional landscapes accessible to readers, whether they see themselves reflected in the poems or discover new perspectives.
Stephanie Burt [01:15]: “There are poems where we read it and we say, wow, that's me. And there are poems where we read it and we say, wow, I didn't know that can happen. That's not me. And there are poems where we read them and we just say, that's beautiful... and I like making those experiences available to readers.”
Discussion on Selected Poems
Stephanie Burt and producer Jeffrey Masters (Gabriel Calvo Caressi) discuss three standout poems from the anthology, each reflecting different facets of queer life.
a. Audre Lorde's "Walking Our Boundaries" ([02:19] - [04:53])
Stephanie Burt highlights Audre Lorde’s poem “Walking Our Boundaries,” which portrays lesbian domesticity with profound intimacy and realism. The poem captures the essence of living together, managing conflicts, and nurturing a shared life.
Stephanie Burt [03:32]: “... such a good and fairly early representation of queer and in this case, lesbian domesticity. This is a poem not about falling for someone and irresistibly wanting to take them to bed, but about learning to live with someone...”
She underscores Lorde's ability to use simple language while crafting a deeply emotional and syntactically rich narrative that conveys the complexities of long-term relationships.
b. Paul Monette's "Worrying" ([05:35] - [07:19])
The conversation shifts to Paul Monette, whom Burt regards as a pivotal poet of the AIDS crisis era. Monette’s poem “Worrying” encapsulates the intense emotions of caregiving and the pervasive fear during the height of the AIDS epidemic.
Stephanie Burt [05:01]: “Paul Monette is, for me, the great poet of that era. He’s a poet of incandescent anger...”
Monette’s raw portrayal of love and loss, combined with his anger towards the societal neglect of the AIDS crisis, offers a powerful commentary on the period’s struggles.
Stephanie Burt [05:35]: “... this poem is called the Worrying. He refers to his lover, his partner, who's sick, as Raj.”
c. Gabriel Calvo Caressi’s "she Ties My Bow Tie" ([08:34] - [10:02])
Gabriel Calvo Caressi presents his own poem, “she Ties My Bow Tie,” which celebrates a tender domestic moment between a queer couple. The poem serves as a contemporary counter-narrative to the external hostility faced by queer individuals, showcasing the sanctuary found within personal relationships.
Gabriel Calvo Caressi [08:34]: “What you thought was the sound of the deer drinking at the base of the ravine was not their soft tongues entering the water, but my love tying my bow tie...”
Burt connects this poem to Lorde’s, emphasizing themes of safety and intimacy amidst a hostile external environment.
Stephanie Burt [09:43]: “And those are two poems of domesticity. And they're poems about the kind of safety that we can create for one another when the outside world doesn't feel safe.”
Themes Explored
a. Queer Domesticity
The episode highlights how queer poetry often delves into the nuances of domestic life, portraying relationships and everyday moments with authenticity and emotional depth. This focus challenges stereotypical representations by showcasing the richness of queer personal experiences.
b. Representation of Queer Lives Outside Major Cities
Stephanie Burt discusses the geographical diversity represented in Super Gay Poems, highlighting queer communities in smaller cities and rural areas that are often overlooked.
Stephanie Burt [11:14]: “America is a very big place... there are queer communities in smaller cities... closer to nature.”
This inclusion underscores the universality of queer experiences, affirming that vibrant LGBTQ communities thrive beyond the well-known metropolitan hubs.
c. Polyamory in Poetry
Burt touches on the anthology’s exploration of polyamorous relationships, noting the scarcity of poetic representations until recently.
Stephanie Burt [12:43]: “...poly lives where you've got multiple people... poems adequate to poly lives have been few and far between until quite recently.”
This discussion highlights the anthology’s role in broadening the scope of LGBTQ poetry to include diverse relationship structures.
Conclusions and Reflections
Stephanie Burt reflects on how compiling Super Gay Poems has deepened her understanding of representation within poetry. She acknowledges the gaps in existing works and expresses a desire to see more inclusive and varied portrayals of queer lives.
Stephanie Burt [12:43]: “I think that I became more aware of the difference between feeling well represented and feeling newly represented...”
The episode concludes with an appreciation for the anthology’s contribution to LGBTQ literature, celebrating its role in providing visibility and voice to a wide spectrum of queer experiences.
Gabriel Calvo Caressi [11:05]: “I really just appreciate the, like, geographical spread of this book.”
Final Thoughts
The “Super Gay Poems” episode of The New Yorker Radio Hour offers a compelling exploration of LGBTQ poetry, emphasizing its role in reflecting and shaping queer identities. Through thoughtful discussions and poignant readings, Stephanie Burt and Gabriel Calvo Caressi illuminate the anthology’s significance in capturing the emotional and cultural landscapes of the LGBTQ community.