Old patriotic poems, which as teenagers we dismissed as cheesy, seem particularly urgent in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Author Archives: Robin Bates
Hats Off, the Flag Is Passing By!
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "The Flag Goes By", authoritarianism, Henry Holcomb Bennett, Patriotism Comments closed
Wendell Berry’s Sabbath Vision
In this fine talk Andrea Sanders explores Wendell Berry’s vision of Sabbath, with slide glances at Dillard, Thoreau, Dickinson, and others.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Sabbath Poems", "That's how the light gets in", "The World Is Too Much with Us", Andrea Sanders, Annie Dillard, Emily Dickinson, Henry David Thoreau, Leonard Cohen, Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Walden, Wendell Berry, William Wordsworth Comments closed
How Swift Would Respond to Trump
Think of Trump trying to impress the giant king in “Gulliver’s Travels” by talking big–and note how the king, rather than impressed, is horrified.
Poetry an Ally in Times Like These
Rich’s “At Times Like These” anticipates the disappearances we are witnessing and suggest that poetry can function as a political ally.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "In Times Like These", "To Posterity", Adrienne Rich, Bertolt Brecht, ICE deportations, immigrants, Trumpism Comments closed
Shakespeare on Trans Rights
Shakespeare makes a strong case for transsexuals in “Twelfth Night” but also has a caution that progressives would do well to heed.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Tootsie, Transsexuality, Twelfth Night, William Shakespeare, women's sports Comments closed
An April Fools’ Day Poem
For April Fools’ Day, check out Goldsmith’s “Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog,” which ends with a wonderful comic reversal. Also for today: war plans group chat from Mordor.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged April Fool's Day, Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog, Houthi Group Chat, MAGA Christians, Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Oliver Goldsmith, Paula White-Cain, Pete Hegseth, Rappaccini's Daughter Comments closed
Trumpism as the Hamlet Story
Think of Trump as Claudius, intent on overthrowing something noble and great. Hamlet describes his uncle as “a mildewed ear,” which fits.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Charles Pierce, deported immigrants, Donald Trump, Karoline Leavitt, William Shakespeare Comments closed
Her Maker’s Maker, Her Father’s Mother
Donne’s “Annunciation” poem uses playful paradox and witty word play to capture the marvelous moment of St. Gabriel’s visit to Mary.
