Tag Archives: W. H. Auden

Unknown Citizens vs. Musk-Trump

By Robin Bates | Published: February 3, 2025

While Auden satirizes the “Unknown Citizen,” unknown citizens are currently stepping up to resist Trump and Musk’s attempted coup.

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Auden on Living in an Age of Anxiety

By Robin Bates | Published: January 28, 2025

In “Age of Anxiety,” Auden explains why it’s so hard to pierce fascism’s bubble.

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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.

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Stop the Clocks: This Is the Hour of Lead

By Robin Bates | Published: November 7, 2024

Auden’s mourning poem “Stop All the Clocks” captures the mood of those who saw a fascist triumph in the American presidential election.

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9-11 and Auden’s “September 1, 1939”

By Robin Bates | Published: September 10, 2024

In which I examine why Americans turned to Auden’s “September 1, 1939” on September 11, 2001–and how the poem still offers us solace and hope in the face of Trumpism.

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Paul Celan on Fascism’s Horrors

By Robin Bates | Published: December 18, 2023

Paul Celan’s “Death Fugue,” about the Holocaust, reads differently during the Israel-Gaza conflict.

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Biden and Auden’s Unknown Citizen

By Robin Bates | Published: November 27, 2023

Auden’s “Unknown Citizen” looks better now than when the poet wrote the poem.

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Poems for Judaism’s High Holy Days

By Robin Bates | Published: September 9, 2023

Note: If you wish to receive, via e-mail, (1) my weekly newsletter or (2) daily copies of these posts, notify me at [email protected] and indicate which you would like. I promise not to share your e-mail address with anyone. To unsubscribe, send me a follow-up email. Sunday Rosh Hashanah, when Jews do a spiritual self-assessment and take upon […]

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Empire of Light, Filled with Poetry

By Robin Bates | Published: April 27, 2023

The film “Empire of Light” is magical in part because of all the poetry recited.

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