Tag Archives: Mary Oliver

Lit as a Life Survival Kit

By Robin Bates | Published: February 10, 2022

When I teach literature, I emphasize application first, interpretation second.

By Robin Bates | Published: January 2, 2022

When death strikes, poetry is there to sustain us.

By Robin Bates | Published: May 10, 2021

An Oliver poem and a Murdoch observation for the month of May.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "May", Iris Murdoch, Nature, Seasons | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: April 17, 2021

Mary Oliver’s “Fish” may be her interpretation of the post-Resurrection story of Jesus eating boiled fish.

By Robin Bates | Published: March 29, 2021

Our spirits have curiously been lifted by the freeing of the Ever Given. Various whale poems come to mind.

By Robin Bates | Published: January 23, 2021

One can read Mary Oliver’s “The Fish” as a description of the eucharist–which is appropriate for today’s gospel reading about fishing for people.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged "Fish", "fish for people", eucharist | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: December 12, 2020

Mary Oliver’s celebration of light in “Poppies” qualifies it as a Hanukkah poem.

By Robin Bates | Published: September 30, 2020

For Mary Oliver, autumn is a time to reflect.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Autumn, Fall, Song for Autumn | Comments closed

By Robin Bates | Published: May 7, 2020

Trump wants people to gamble with their lives to open up the economy. These works remind us that life is too precious to be sqandered this way.