What is The San Clemente Syndrome?

The poem "The San Clemente Syndrome" is symbolic of Elio’s growing discovery of his bisexuality. Before Elio meets Oliver or reads the poetry collection containing "The San Clemente Syndrome," he has mistakenly believed that he is alone in his feelings of sexual attraction toward both men and women. The poem shows him that he is not alone in that feeling and the positive response to the poem at the reading in Rome makes him feel at home and understood by the people there.