At the Gym

“The Shield of Achilles” by W.H. Auden (1952)

W.H. Auden’s “The Shield of Achilles” is a good example of modern poetic ekphrasis. Auden’s poem does not engage with the object of interpretation as directly as Doty’s work, but his object, Achilles's shield, traces its lineage to the origin of ekphrasis in the western tradition. Modern ekphrasis, like Auden’s poem, often focuses on impressions and abstractions inspired by the art object under observation. Comparing Auden’s work to “At the Gym” helps to demonstrate Doty’s unwavering focus on his unconventional interpretive object.

“Laboratory Poem” by James Merrill (1958)

Doty’s poetry is often compared to the works of James Merrill for his similar use of free verse forms. Merrill's “Laboratory Poem” is an effective contrast to Doty’s “At the Gym” because both poems are confined to a particular kind of space. Merrill’s laboratory is a heterosocial environment, and Merrill’s speaker chooses to emphasize the relationship between individuated characters. Merrill also opts for longer lines length that, when juxtaposed to “At the Gym,” bring the force of Doty’s shorter lines into sharper contrast.

“Homosexuality“ by Frank O’Hara (1970)

Frank O’Hara is one of the first modern gay voices in poetry.