Tag Archives: "blessing the boats"

Sending Students Out into the World

By Robin Bates | Published: May 14, 2018

On Saturday at our commencement ceremony, I read C. P. Cavafy’s poem “Ithaka.” It was a great selection for a number of reasons.

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The Jordan River Continues to Inspire

By Robin Bates | Published: November 2, 2014

The River Jordan, an inspiring image for American slaves, has worked it was into contemporary African American poems, including those of Lucille Clifton.

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Rituals of Commencement

By Robin Bates | Published: May 17, 2014

Robert Creeley’s graduation poem captures both the predictability and the unpredictability of young people going forth into the world.

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Children Commence, Parents Let Go

By Robin Bates | Published: May 17, 2010

Flowers for Justin This past Saturday St. Mary’s College held its graduation and, as always, it was a time of good-byes. Good-byes are the theme of today’s post. One good-bye was to poet Lucille Clifton, a former member of the faculty whose poem “blessing the boats (at St. Mary’s)” has become a regular part of […]

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