Author Archives: Robin Bates

Kipling’s Warning to Empires

By Robin Bates | Published: November 26, 2024

Kipling’s “Recessional,” written as a warning to the British empire, applies as well to America today.

By Robin Bates | Published: November 25, 2024

Reading childhood favorites to invalids can have a restorative effect.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged reading therapy | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: November 25, 2024

Pete Heseth, Trump’s nominee for Sec. of Defense, is indistinguishable from the guardians in “Handmaid’s Tale.”

By Robin Bates | Published: November 23, 2024

A Malcolm Guite sonnet to celebrate “Christ the King Sunday.” The poet offers other metaphors than “king,” which is fine by me.

By Robin Bates | Published: November 21, 2024

South Korea’s 4B movement, aimed at toxic men, may owe something to Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata,” written 2500 years ago.

By Robin Bates | Published: November 20, 2024

While many Americans feel betrayed by their fellow voters following Election 2024, Dante’s vision of betrayal in “Inferno” may not apply.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Dante, Donald Trump, Inferno | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: November 19, 2024

Clifton knew cancer well and wrote about it eloquently.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Lucille Clifton | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: November 18, 2024

1984 understands Trumpism like few other books.

By Robin Bates | Published: November 17, 2024

Returning home after 7 weeks abroad feels like Frodo returning home to a devastated Shire.