A nightmare timeshare story had me returning to Nabokov’s “Cloud, Castle, Lake.”
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Category Archives: Uncategorized
Hockey, Trump, and Ellison’s Invisible Man
The unfortunate aftermath of the American hockey victory has me thinking of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man. Some explaining is required.
Brother Fire Unleased upon Tehran
The bombing of Tehran brings to mind Louis MacNeice’s “Brother Fire,” about the London blitzkrieg. 15 years ago I wrote about the poem as the U.S. was about to bomb Libya.
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Scientific Wonder and the Longing for God
In “Astronomical Psalms for a Vast Universe,” astrophysicist Arnold Benz combines a scientific exploration of the universe with spiritual insight.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Arnold Benz, Astronomical Psalms for a Vast Universe, astrophysics, science and religion Comments closed
Forging a Separate Identity from My Father
I which I explore the difficulties of a son forging an identity separate from his father.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Alfred Lord Tennyson, fathers and sons, Homer, Odyssey, Scott Bates, Ulysses Comments closed
Milton, Voltaire, and Trump’s Address
In which I compare Trump’s State of the Union speech to Paradise Lost—well, a little bit—and also to Candide.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Bill Kristol, Candide, Donald Trump, John Milton, Paradise Lost, Samuel Johnson, State of the Union speech, Voltaire Comments closed
Misuse of Language Induces Evil in the Soul
Le Quin’s advice to a young writer: respect, do not abuse, language.
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged "Ode on a Grecian Urn", "Task", John Keats, Ursula K Le Guin, William Cowper Comments closed
Hans Brinker’s Successors Bring Home the Gold
The Duchess prowess in speed skating at the Olympics was anticipate in 1865 by the novel “Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates.”
Posted in Uncategorized Tagged Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates, Mary Mapes Dodge, Olympics, speed skating Comments closed