Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dorianne Laux’s “Vacation Sex” is a candid, humorous, and ultimately tender exploration of intimacy within the often chaotic context of travel. The poem moves seamlessly through the quirky inconveniences of journeying across the continent and settles into the quiet profundity of homecoming, all framed by the acts of love and connection that anchor the speaker and her partner. In typical Laux fashion, the poem is unflinching in its details, finding beauty and humor in the ordinary and the awkward, and transforming them into moments of profound humanity.

The poem begins with a sweeping summation of the speaker’s summer-long journey—“from the Canadian border / to the edge of Mexico.” This geographical framing provides a vast backdrop for the intimate encounters described. The juxtaposition of “keeping it American” with the decidedly unromantic settings—“hotels under overpasses” and “rooms next to ice machines”—creates a sense of humor and realism. The mention of “friends’ fold-out couches” and “in-laws’ guest quarters” suggests the discomfort and lack of privacy often accompanying shared spaces during travel. Yet, these settings, far from glamorous, become the canvas for acts of love and intimacy, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of human connection.

The imagery throughout the poem is vivid and tactile. The details—“wallpaper and bedspreads festooned / with nautical rigging, tiny life rings and coiled tow ropes”—evoke a sense of kitschy, overdecorated guest rooms. Even the uncomfortable night in the car is described with humor and specificity: “the plush backseat not plush / enough, the door handle giving me an impromptu / sacro-cranial chiropractic adjustment.” These moments ground the poem in the physical world, emphasizing the often awkward and imperfect realities of intimacy.

The shift to the “long glorious night in a cabin tucked in the woods” introduces a contrasting image of freedom and wildness. The speaker recalls how their sounds of passion “started the coyotes / singing,” linking their human connection to the untamed rhythms of nature. This moment stands out as a rare instance of privacy and harmony within the poem’s broader narrative of logistical challenges and cramped quarters.

However, the heart of the poem lies in its depiction of homecoming. The speaker describes their return with reverence, transforming the mundane details of their house into sacred symbols. The hallway becomes a “vestibule,” and their discarded clothes are likened to “garments, like raiment, like habits.” This religious imagery conveys a sense of ritual and sanctity, elevating their acts of intimacy in their familiar space to something transcendent. The home itself, with its “drab spread” and “pillows that smelled like us,” becomes a sanctuary where the couple can reconnect fully and authentically.

Laux’s use of sensory details deepens this sense of intimacy. The description of the pillows as “a little shampoo-y, maybe a little like myrrh” evokes both the domestic and the divine, blending the ordinary with the sacred. The “gooseberry candle” and the “cat on the window seat” further emphasize the comfort and idiosyncrasies of home. These details create a warm, textured portrait of the speaker’s life, inviting the reader into this deeply personal space.

The poem’s conclusion shifts outward, connecting the speaker’s private world with the larger, often harsh realities beyond her window. The view of the “24-hour Albertson’s” and the “homeless couple” on the dentist’s bench serves as a poignant reminder of the fragility and impermanence of human connections. The speaker’s acknowledgment of these lives—“argue loudly until we all fall asleep”—underscores the shared humanity that runs through the poem, even as it focuses on one couple’s intimate experiences.

In “Vacation Sex,” Laux masterfully balances humor, sensuality, and tenderness, crafting a narrative that celebrates love in its many forms. The poem’s exploration of discomfort, imperfection, and joy captures the essence of long-term relationships—the ways in which love endures and adapts, finding expression in both the extraordinary and the mundane. It is a testament to the resilience of intimacy and the profound beauty of shared lives, even amid the chaos of travel and the imperfections of the everyday world.

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