That's what I have understood too. Lifting Belly (think a moment) is
considered to be one of the all time great lesbian sex poems, and I do find
it rather explicit. Read a little of it with that in mind, and see what
happens.
Sal
Also:
Here's a little exerpt from Planet Out's brief history of Gertrude Stein by
David Bianco
http://www.planetout.com/pno/news/history/archive/09131999.html:
"Toklas soon moved in with Stein, and they settled into married life.
Stein's pet names for her lover included "wifie" and "pussy"; in turn,
Toklas called Stein "hubbie," "lovey," and "Mount Fatty." Toklas managed all
the domestic chores so that Stein was free to write. In addition, she typed
Stein's work and scrupulously checked the galley proofs of her books. Since
Stein got to fulfill herself while Toklas simply took care of her, some
lesbian scholars have criticized their relationship as mimicking the worst
heterosexual marriage.
"However, both women expressed contentment in their relationship and
devotion to each other. Toklas was, Stein said, "all to me." They left daily
love notes to each other signed "DD" and "YD" ("Darling Darling" and "Your
Darling"). Stein wrote about their seemingly robust sex life, using code
words like "cow" for orgasm. "I am fondest of all of lifting belly," reads
Stein's "Lifting Belly," a 50-page tribute to lesbian sex:
Lifting belly
So high
And aiming.
Exactly
And making
A cow
Come out
...That is what I adore always more and more.
> From: "Lee & Lisa" <leesa@ccsi.com>
> Reply-To: stein-l@ucdavis.edu
> Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 17:11:06 -0600
> To: <stein-l@ucdavis.edu>
> Subject: Re: Lifting Belly
>
> Hello,
>
> I remember reading somewhere that "cow" and "Caesar" refer to orgasms.
>
> (Seize Her, Caesar)
>
> I don't know about the origin or the cow reference, though.
>
> Lee
>
>> Although, I am a die hard Gertrude Stein fan. This poem is one I can not
>> quite grasp. I can honestly say, I do not know what is going on-
>> What about Caesars? What does the cow signify? I have read it about five
>> times in the last month. I found it's tone to be one of playful domestic
>> bliss, but I can not figure out the underlining meanings
>>
>> Looking for feedback ideas and explanations
>>
>> thanks!
>> Ladylouba@hotmail.com
>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
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