The war in Ukraine can partly be explained as a war between two poets, Pushkin and Shevchenko.
Monthly Archives: April 2022
In Ukraine, a Battle between 2 Poets
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "On Ukrainian Independence", Alexander Pushkin, Russian imperialism, Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine invasion Comments closed
Kesey, Spokesman for Reactionary Men
“One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest” anticipates rightwing attacks on women and people of color.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged COVID-19, Ken Kesey, male identity crisis, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest, racism, Sexism, Tucker Carlson Comments closed
The Fascist Right Goes for Sendak
The authoritarian Christian right has now begun going after public libraries, one of which recently had Sendak’s “In the Night Kitchen” pulled.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged authoritarianism, censorship, Fascism, In the Night Kitchen, Maurice Sendak Comments closed
Out of Black Ponds, Water Lillies
“Morning Poem” works as an Easter poem because every morning, as Oliver sees it, is a mini-resurrection.
Passover Originated in Poetic Vision
In this Passover poem, Harvey Shapiro traces the movement from direct encounter with God to the Passover story.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Mountain Fire Thornbush", Harvey Shapiro, Norman Finkelstein, Passover Comments closed
Jane Austen, Fountain of Youth
89-year-old Ruth Wilson finds that rereading Jane Austen keeps her feeling young.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Aging, D.H. Lawrence, Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, Sons and Lovers Comments closed
Who Has the Real Problem with Sex?
Those who complain most about sexual perversion are usually the people who are most implicated in it. Take Iago, for instance.
Dancing in the Face of Darkness
In “Evening Sun,” poet Kenyon remembers a life-affirming moment as a child that would bolster her as an adult.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "man who killed the bear", "Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day", "Evening Sun", Jane Kenyon, Lucille Clifton, sorrow Comments closed
Iago Resentment Is Destroying America
The “ressentiment” that drives Iago to destroy Othello is present in our own society and equally destructive.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Beowulf, Donald Trump, John Milton, Othello, Paradise Lost, racism, ressentiment, William Shakespeare Comments closed