Sex Writing is Controversial, Especially When It Helps You Win and Then Lose a Coveted Professorship at Oxford

On May 16, a notable British poet Ruth Padel became the first woman in 301 years to win a poet professorship at Oxford University. One of her most popular works “describes a lover putting honey glaze on a Sainsbury’s free-range duck. The poet then runs a fingernail down the lover’s spine ‘Ending in a fuck’ along the kitchen table.”

Hooray for sex writing!

But controversy arose when it was rumored that this poem was about a sexcapade she had with journalist John Walsh who conveniently helped push out Padel’s main opponent Derek Walcott by revealing sexual harassment charges in Walcott’s past.

Ten days after winning the professorship and after vehemently denying any involvement in her opponent’s demise, Padel resigned her position and admitted that she had played a part.

Dear Ruth, damn your slimy ways. Thanks for helping to set talented women back another 300 years. I won’t deny your talent, just your morals.

“Home Cooking”

You spread our Free Range Duck
Breasts with your trade-mark mix

Of honey, soya,
Chinese Five SpiceWhile I etch
A fingernail down your spine

Ending in a fuck
The length of our kitchen table

Making the bread-board rise
To its feet, the dog beneath us whine,
And the Sainsbury's poultry burn

("Home Cooking" found in Ruth Padel’s book “Voodo Shop”)