In this R.S. Thomas poem, two poets engage in the never-ending discussion of whether poetry is more craft or inspiration.
Tag Archives: Geoffrey Chaucer
Poets Talking Poetry over a Beer
The Poetry of Holy Bread
I share a church talk on “The Poetry of Bread” where I shared poems by Levertov, Ungar, Neruda, Underhill, and others.
Chaucer Doth Tweet
Check out Chaucer Doth Tweet, a twitter account dedicated to Middle English parodies. It’s very much in the spirit of Chaucer.
Summer Solstice Unleashes Dark Forces
Early works of Brit Lit used summer solstice imagery to explore clashes between Christian England and its pagan past.
Chaucer’s Miller & the Los Angeles Rams
The LA Rams won the Super Bowl, bringing Chaucer’s Miller to mind.
Chaucer Was No Sexist or Anti-Semite
In which I agree with a recent article defending Chaucer against charges of sexism and anti-Semitism.
Trump & Chaucer’s Pardoner, Both Corrupt
Trump’s abuse of the pardon system invites comparisons with the behavior of Chaucer’s Pardoner and Summoner.
St. Paul, St. Thecla, and the Wife of Bath
The Wife of Bath threads between visions of marriage articulated by St. Paul. In the process, she articulates a far more spiritual vision than that propagated by misogynist monks of the period.
Chaucer & a Trump-Enabling GOP
For a story that captures GOP readiness to believe all that Trump says, there’s Chaucer’s “Merchant’s Tale.”

