Think of Wordsworth’s “Tintern Abbey” as a gratitude poem appropriate for Thanksgiving.
Author Archives: Robin Bates
All Which We Behold Is Full of Blessings
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged gratitude, Nature, Thanksgiving, Tintern Abbey, William Wordsworth Comments closed
Kipling’s Warning to Empires
Kipling’s “Recessional,” written as a warning to the British empire, applies as well to America today.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Recessional", Donald Trump, Election 2024, empire, Rudyard Kipling Comments closed
The Power of Parental Reading
Reading childhood favorites to invalids can have a restorative effect.
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s Gilead Guardian
Pete Heseth, Trump’s nominee for Sec. of Defense, is indistinguishable from the guardians in “Handmaid’s Tale.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, misogyny, Pete Hegseth Comments closed
Jesus as the Flame within the Flame
A Malcolm Guite sonnet to celebrate “Christ the King Sunday.” The poet offers other metaphors than “king,” which is fine by me.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Everything Holds Together", Anne Lamott, Christ the King Sunday, Malcolm Guite Comments closed
Dreams of a Sex Strike
South Korea’s 4B movement, aimed at toxic men, may owe something to Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata,” written 2500 years ago.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged 4B, Aristophanes, Lysistrata, sex strike, toxic masculinity Comments closed
On Dante and Betrayal in Election 2024
While many Americans feel betrayed by their fellow voters following Election 2024, Dante’s vision of betrayal in “Inferno” may not apply.
Clifton Poems for Cancer Sufferers
Clifton knew cancer well and wrote about it eloquently.
Trump’s Orwellian Cabinet Picks
1984 understands Trumpism like few other books.
