Tragic Life of Poet Thom Gunn Explored in New Biography

Thom Gunn, a celebrated poet, faced profound personal turmoil throughout his life, marked by abandonment and emotional trauma. After being deserted by both his husband and lover, Gunn left a poignant note for his two young sons, which reflected his struggle with deep emotions. In 1991, he attempted to confront this trauma through poetry, carefully distancing himself from the pain by objectifying his experiences and avoiding the term "mother," which he found too painful. Gunn's literary influences included Shakespeare's Coriolanus and iconic figures of machismo from American pop culture, such as Marlon Brando and Elvis Presley. After relocating to San Francisco in 1954, he immersed himself in the vibrant gay bar scene, where he connected with a community that embraced a tough exterior. In a bid to embody this virility, Gunn adopted a leather-clad persona and even tattooed a black panther on his forearm, seeking to shield himself from emotional pain. His poetry often explored themes of identity and desire, with Gunn describing himself in fantastical terms, such as a centaur. Despite his bravado, he expressed feelings of inadequacy compared to literary giants like Baudelaire and Rimbaud. Nott's biography suggests that while Gunn led a "cool queer life," the reality was more complex, revealing a man grappling with loneliness and the specter of AIDS. Tragically, Gunn's life ended in solitude, echoing the abandonment he experienced in his youth. His death, discovered hours later, starkly contrasted the vibrant persona he cultivated, leaving a legacy that invites reflection on the interplay of identity, desire, and emotional vulnerability.