Monthly Archives: October 2023

It’s Your Limbs He Comes to Fill

By Robin Bates | Published: October 21, 2023

Mary Karr’s poem on the resurrection imagines Jesus longing for life and returning to fill us in turn.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Descending Theology The Resurrection", Jesus, Mary Karr, Resurrection | Comments closed

How Lit Inspires Courage and Love

By Robin Bates | Published: October 19, 2023

Fletcher in “Masterworks” argues that epic narrative can boost courage and lyric disclosure can do the same for love.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Fragment 16", "He seems to me a god", Angus Fletcher, courage, Homer, Iliad, literature as self help, love, Masterworks, Odyssey, Sappho | Comments closed

Glück on the “Lethal, Unstable” Future

By Robin Bates | Published: October 18, 2023

In “Empty Glass,” Glück does a deep dive into the many ways we strive to control an uncertain future.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Empty Glass", abusive relationships, control, Euripides, Iphigenia at Aulis, Louise Glück, superstitions | Comments closed

GOP Intellectuals Want a “Red Caesar”

By Robin Bates | Published: October 17, 2023

Rightwing intellectuals are now advocating “Red Caesarism.” Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar” provides some insights.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged authoritarianism, Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, GOP, Jim Jordan, Julius Caesar, Liz Cheney, NeverTrumpers, William Shakespeare | Comments closed

Euripides on the Loss of a Child

By Robin Bates | Published: October 16, 2023

Euripides helped philosopher Nussbaum handle the death of her daughter. This is one of literature’s great gifts.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged death and dying, death of a child, Euripides, Martha Nussbaum, Trojan Women | Comments closed

Glück on Teen Sex, Rape, and Persephone

By Robin Bates | Published: October 15, 2023

Louise Gluck, who died last week, has a fascinating poem about Persephone that explores difficult issues of teen sex.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Persephone the Wanderer", Louise Glück, Metamorphoses, Ovid, Persephone, Rape, teenage sex | Comments closed

Poetry Rescues Women in Dark Places

By Robin Bates | Published: October 14, 2023

Poetry can reach women in prison and those who are homeless and suffering from addiction.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "i have been a thousand different women", "Jelly God", "Serenity Prayer", Emory Hall, Jeannie Babb, rehab, Reinhold Niebuhr, women in prison | Comments closed

On Friday 13 and Black Cats

By Robin Bates | Published: October 12, 2023

A post on Friday 13 and black cats, with thoughts on Poe and a Rilke cat poem.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Black Cat, black cats, Edgar Allan Poe, Friday 13, Pogo, Rainer Maria Rilke, superstitions, Walt Kelly | Comments closed

A House Member’s Scarlet Letter

By Robin Bates | Published: October 11, 2023

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) recently wore a scarlet letter to work. We explore why.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Abortion, Forced birth movement, House Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, Nancy Mace, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Scarlet Letter | Comments closed