Poetry's forbidden fruits for banned books week

In celebration of Banned Books Week, dirty old Harriet has culled together a few obscene and sexually explicit poems banned throughout the ages. Lets go in chronological order, shall we?

Charles Baudelaire, reputedly a prostitute-seeking dandy, was equated with all things unwholesome in his time. His poetry touched upon all sorts of taboos - including lesbian love and vampires - and six poems in his collection Les Fleurs du mal was condemned as obscene. One poem in particular, "To One Who Is Too Cheerful," was banned because it was thought to refer to a vile venereal disease (rumor has it that Baudelaire contracted syphilis, perhaps from one of his ladies of the night?)

In 1881, Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass was withdrawn in Boston for the use of explicit language. It was later published in Philadelphia, and today it's an American classic. One point for Walt and banned books!

Allen Ginsberg's presently ubiquitous Howl is perhaps the most controversial banned poem of all time. This post in the New Yorker from the 2008 Banned Books Week is a testament to the poem's ongoing ability to rile up a (conservative) crowd.

Shel Silverstein's award-winning collection of poetry for children, A Light in the Attic, was banned because the poem "How Not To Have To Dry The Dishes" supposedly encourages messiness and disobedience. He also conjures supernatural themes with mention of demons and devils in his poems, which must mean he worshiped Satan or something.

So there you have it. Thanks to the American Library Association for sponsoring the event, and as long as it's good poetry, keep on reading all sorts of smut.