Category Archives: Uncategorized

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 | Comments closed

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 | Comments closed

How to Live under Authoritarianism

By Robin Bates | Published: December 9, 2024

In “Envoy of Mr. Cogito,” Zbigniew Herbert informs us how to respond to authoritarian rule. We may need his poem as we face another four years of Donald Trump.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Envoy of Mr. Cogito", authoritarianism, Greg Olear, Robert Haas, Zbigniew Herbert | Comments closed

Apologies for Press Handling of Gaza

By Robin Bates | Published: December 8, 2024

Alcalay’s angry poem apologizing for the U.S. media whitewashing the Gaza conflict is inspired by an Iraqi poet lamenting what Hussein did to Iraq.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "My Apologies", Ammiel Alcalay, Arabian Nights, Bulunda al-Haidari, Gaza, Iraq, Israel, Israeli-Gaza conflict, Palestine, Saddam Hussein | Comments closed

Notre Dame: Two Arms Raised in Prayer

By Robin Bates | Published: December 7, 2024

To celebrate France reopening Notre Dame to visitors, here’s a 19th century poem honoring the cathedral.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Notre Dame", "Staircase of Notre Dame", architecture, Daniel Gabriel Rossetti, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Notre Dame cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris, Théophile Gautier, Victor Hugo | Comments closed

Wicked, a Parable for Our Time

By Robin Bates | Published: December 5, 2024

“Wicked” (the movie) shows us Trump-type scapegoating while “Wicked” (the book) also provides insight into how and why people are drawn to his sadism.