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A MAN AND HIS PENIS, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Edward Field’s poem “A Man and His Penis” employs humor, candor, and satire to explore male sexuality, masculinity, and identity. By incorporating various tones ranging from the playful to the critical, Field offers a nuanced and multifaceted examination of the often complicated relationship between a man and his genitalia. Divided into six sections, the poem investigates cultural norms, personal insecurities, and the paradoxes inherent in male sexuality.

The poem opens with a quotation attributed to Socrates: “The only happy man is he who is at one with his cock.” While it’s not a real Socratic saying, it humorously frames the theme, suggesting that male happiness hinges on acceptance of one’s penis. This ironic epigraph hints at the poem's blend of philosophy and satire.

Section 1 sets the stage with a self-reflective tone: “Someone said / he had a lover's quarrel with the world. / They can say about me, that all my life / I've had a lover's quarrel with my prick.” Here, the poet adapts Robert Frost’s famous phrase about having a “lover’s quarrel with the world” to reflect his own complicated relationship with his penis. The language is direct, capturing both affection and frustration.

In Section 2, Field examines early anxieties about penis size, specifically referencing “The Terrible Shrinking Disease,” a mythological affliction attributed to parts of Asia. Despite this fear, the narrator acknowledges that his penis “got bigger, it got smaller,” leading him to accept that “it has a mind of its own.” This acceptance is underscored by humor and criticism as he laments circumcision and its impact on size, cursing “the circumciser / who deprived me of the vital centimeters.” This resentment reflects deeper cultural and religious struggles, particularly his Jewish identity: “But whoever said being a Jew was easy?” This acknowledgment intertwines personal and cultural identity, while the imagined voice of God humorously responds, “You schmuck, God roars, what are you complaining about?”

Section 3, titled “Paradox,” explores the contradictions of male sexuality. Field notes, “The sleeping man is the man with the hard-on,” highlighting the divide between the idealized “dreamer” who is “with a hard-on all night” and the “waking man who has struggled for years / to get out of bed.” The paradox is that arousal is often beyond control, further emphasizing the penis’s independence from the man’s conscious will.

Section 4, “Addict,” shifts to a confessional tone, comparing his relationship with his penis to an addiction. Field writes, “I’m two puffs on a joint away from being a man with a terrific cock,” acknowledging that substances can distort self-perception. This candid section illustrates the lengths to which some men go to reconcile their physical selves with societal ideals.

Section 5, “Survey,” adopts a more humorous and dialogic approach, posing the question: “Do you have a big one?” The varied responses reveal the diversity of male attitudes toward their genitalia:

- “No, but it's a horny little bastard.”

- “It's got a life of its own.”

- “When it gets up to its dirty tricks, nobody complains.”

The section satirizes societal expectations and the bravado often associated with masculinity, while also showing that penis size is a matter of perception and attitude.

Finally, Section 6, “His Finest Hour,” culminates the poem with a sense of triumph and mythic proportions: “It's bigger than he is, I heard, as I woke up in the barracks, one hot Sunday morning.” This section invokes the imagery of military barracks and hypermasculinity, suggesting that the speaker's penis represents an exaggerated sense of pride and identity.

Structurally, Field employs free verse throughout the poem, allowing for a conversational and confessional tone. The loose structure reflects the fluidity of the themes and emphasizes the variability of male attitudes towards sexuality. His direct, often coarse language captures the humor and vulnerability inherent in discussing masculinity.

“A Man and His Penis” ultimately provides a satirical yet poignant exploration of male sexuality. Through humor, candor, and cultural critique, Edward Field sheds light on the often conflicted relationship between men and their bodies, highlighting the absurdity of societal expectations and the complexity of personal identity.


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