A Scott Bates poem about birds flocking around feeders in the snow captures the mystical transformation that cultures dream of during the dark days of winter.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Bird Watcher's Christmas Dinner", Christmas, Hermes Trismegistus, Scott Bates, Winter solstice | Leave a comment

Pickwickian Anger at Dems’ Surrender

By Robin Bates | Published: December 15, 2024

As I watch Democrats surrendering to Trump in advance, I am as appalled as Mr. Pickwick is when he watches his lawyer praise opposing counsel.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Charles Dickens, Chris Hayes, Pickwick Papers, surrendering in advance, Trumpism | Leave a comment

Advent as a Final Notification

By Robin Bates | Published: December 13, 2024

Rich’s “Final Notification” can be read as an Advent poem, a resistance to and then final surrender to God’s will.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Final Notification", "Sonnet XIV", Adrienne Rich, Advent, John Donne | Leave a comment

Trumpism and Penelope’s Suitors

By Robin Bates | Published: December 12, 2024

Penelope’s suitors are like Trump and his supporters, looting the household and then calling other people lazy grifters asking for handouts.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged entitlement programs, Homer, Iliad, kleptocracy, Odyssey, Trumpism, welfare programs | Leave a comment

A Lovely Poem Celebrating Aging

By Robin Bates | Published: December 11, 2024

Author Dudley Delffs has written a lovely poem about turning sixty. “The dimming day is undeniable, but twilight embers ambient gold all around you, a gilt frame glimmering.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Sixty", Aging, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Dudley Delffs, Ulysses | Leave a comment

Nikki Giovanni, R.I.P.

By Robin Bates | Published: December 10, 2024

“Rosa Parks” and “Nikki-Rosa” capture two sides of the late Nikki Giovanni, the political and the personal.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Nikki-Rosa", "Rosa Parks", Nikki Giovanni | Leave a comment