I had assumed that I would age with all my friends growing old around me, dying off very gradually one by one. And here was a plague that cut them off so early. Thom Gunn ageassumecut Change image and share on social
It was difficult being a teacher and out of the closet in the '50s. By the time I retired, the English department was proud of having a gay poet of a certain minor fame. It was a very satisfactory change! Thom Gunn 50schangecloset share on social
There have been two popular subjects for poetry in the last few decades: the Vietnam War and AIDS, about both of which almost all of us have felt deeply. Thom Gunn aiddecadedeeply Change image and share on social
I was at a benefit for some imprisoned students in the '60s at San Francisco State, and there were lots of poets reading for the benefit: one was Elizabeth Bishop. Thom Gunn 60sbenefitbishop Change image and share on social
I admired what my students were writing, but I think their improvement doesn't directly result from me but from being in a class, being with each other. Thom Gunn admireclassdirectly Change image and share on social
I don't know how to sit outside myself and test against a hypothetical self who stayed home. Thom Gunn homehypotheticalsit Change image and share on social
I think most men, heterosexual and homosexual, enjoy being considered sexual objects. Thom Gunn considerenjoyheterosexual Change image and share on social
We learned in the university to consider Wordsworth and Keats as Romantics. They were only a generation apart, but Wordsworth didn't even read Keats's book when he gave him a copy. Thom Gunn bookcopygeneration Change image and share on social
I was much influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre. Thom Gunn influencejeanspaul Change image and share on social