Rachel Baack
The Sea Limits
Summary: A short poem that highlights the oneness of all things.
Summary: A short poem that highlights the oneness of all things.
Selected Poems of Edwin Arlington Robinson
I have not read this entire collection. What follows are reviews for the poems from this collection that I have read:
- “Miniver Cheevy”: A short poem about a man who wastes his life wishing to have been born in a different time. Rating: 2.5/5
- “Richard Cory” (not in HC): A short poem with a shocking ending that comments on class division and the pervasiveness of unhappiness. It seems rather simplistic in its exploration of the issues it addresses. Rating: 2.5/5
I have not read this entire collection. What follows are reviews for the poems from this collection that I have read:
- “Miniver Cheevy”: A short poem about a man who wastes his life wishing to have been born in a different time. Rating: 2.5/5
- “Richard Cory” (not in HC): A short poem with a shocking ending that comments on class division and the pervasiveness of unhappiness. It seems rather simplistic in its exploration of the issues it addresses. Rating: 2.5/5
To the Body
Summary: Patmore’s poem praises the glory of the human body as a creation of God.
Summary: Patmore’s poem praises the glory of the human body as a creation of God.
First They Came for the Jews
Summary: The speaker of this poem tracks the progression of the Nazi party’s targeting of different groups in German society, challenging the reader to recognize the way in which the fate of all humanity is bound together.
Summary: The speaker of this poem tracks the progression of the Nazi party’s targeting of different groups in German society, challenging the reader to recognize the way in which the fate of all humanity is bound together.
Deep Fork
Myers’ poem describes Oklahoma’s less-than-grand Deep Fork River and the way in which the river’s atmosphere is one of peace that encourages an understanding of the beauty of letting go.
Myers’ poem describes Oklahoma’s less-than-grand Deep Fork River and the way in which the river’s atmosphere is one of peace that encourages an understanding of the beauty of letting go.
For the purposes of this review, I am treating this book entry as the entire multivolume set of The Collected Works of William Morris. I did not read this whole collection; what follows are instead the reviews for the works I have read from the collection:
- "The Beauty of Life": In this lecture, William Morris argues that his society no longer produces and cares about beautiful art, and he urges the creation of “art made by the people and for the people, a joy to the maker and the user.”
- “A Garden by the Sea”: The speaker of this poem longs to walk in a garden by the sea with a love that he has lost. Rating: 2/5
- “The Haystack in the Floods”: This poem chronicles an encounter between the English commander Sir Robert, his French mistress Jehane, and his small band of soldiers on one side and Godmar and a group of Frenchmen on the other side. It takes place during the Hundred Years’ War. Godmar’s men surround Sir Robert’s men as they try to escape, and he forces Jehane to make a seemingly impossible decision. Rating: 4.5/5
- “Near Avalon”: This poem describes two ships, one carrying six maidens and one carrying six knights, who carry locks of their ladies’ hair. Rating: 2.5/5
- “Riding Together”: A Crusader (the speaker of the poem) tells of his journey with his fellow Crusader and close friend to a battle that ended tragically for him. Rating: 3/5
- “Summer Dawn”: The speaker of the poem asks the listener to pray a prayer for him as the morning comes. Rating: 2.5/5
For the purposes of this review, I am treating this book entry as the entire multivolume set of The Collected Works of William Morris. I did not read this whole collection; what follows are instead the reviews for the works I have read from the collection:
- "The Beauty of Life": In this lecture, William Morris argues that his society no longer produces and cares about beautiful art, and he urges the creation of “art made by the people and for the people, a joy to the maker and the user.”
- “A Garden by the Sea”: The speaker of this poem longs to walk in a garden by the sea with a love that he has lost. Rating: 2/5
- “The Haystack in the Floods”: This poem chronicles an encounter between the English commander Sir Robert, his French mistress Jehane, and his small band of soldiers on one side and Godmar and a group of Frenchmen on the other side. It takes place during the Hundred Years’ War. Godmar’s men surround Sir Robert’s men as they try to escape, and he forces Jehane to make a seemingly impossible decision. Rating: 4.5/5
- “Near Avalon”: This poem describes two ships, one carrying six maidens and one carrying six knights, who carry locks of their ladies’ hair. Rating: 2.5/5
- “Riding Together”: A Crusader (the speaker of the poem) tells of his journey with his fellow Crusader and close friend to a battle that ended tragically for him. Rating: 3/5
- “Summer Dawn”: The speaker of the poem asks the listener to pray a prayer for him as the morning comes. Rating: 2.5/5
Lucifer in Starlight
Summary: The speaker describes a brief moment in which Lucifer “tired of his dark dominion.”
Summary: The speaker describes a brief moment in which Lucifer “tired of his dark dominion.”
Love in the Valley
Summary: The speaker simultaneously describes the woman with whom he is in love and the nature that surrounds her.
Summary: The speaker simultaneously describes the woman with whom he is in love and the nature that surrounds her.
Lucifer in Starlight
Added to listClassicswith 116 books.
A Ballad of Past Meridian
Summary: The speaker has an encounter with the personified forms of Death and Life.
Summary: The speaker has an encounter with the personified forms of Death and Life.
Added to listChildrenwith 7 books.
Lucifer in Starlight
Added to listPoetrywith 40 books.
I have not read this entire work, but I have read the following pieces included in the work (each summarized with ratings):
- “The Courtship of the Youghy-Bonghy-Bò”: This poem tells the story of Youghy-Bonghy-Bò’s failed proposal to Lady Jingly. Despite its melancholy subject, the poem has a rather lighthearted tone, yet it perhaps touches on more serious questions regarding love and the reasons for marriage. Rating: 3.5/5
- “Incidents in the Life of my Uncle Arly”: The speaker tells the goofy story of his vagabond uncle who lived in the hills with a cricket on his nose. Rating: 2.5/5
- “The New Vestments”: This silly poem tells of a man who made and wore clothing made mostly of food. Rating: 1.5/5
I have not read this entire work, but I have read the following pieces included in the work (each summarized with ratings):
- “The Courtship of the Youghy-Bonghy-Bò”: This poem tells the story of Youghy-Bonghy-Bò’s failed proposal to Lady Jingly. Despite its melancholy subject, the poem has a rather lighthearted tone, yet it perhaps touches on more serious questions regarding love and the reasons for marriage. Rating: 3.5/5
- “Incidents in the Life of my Uncle Arly”: The speaker tells the goofy story of his vagabond uncle who lived in the hills with a cricket on his nose. Rating: 2.5/5
- “The New Vestments”: This silly poem tells of a man who made and wore clothing made mostly of food. Rating: 1.5/5
For the Sake of Strangers
Summary: The speaker conveys a sense of release and peace in their description of the way that the small kindnesses of strangers can lift the weight from one’s shoulders.
Summary: The speaker conveys a sense of release and peace in their description of the way that the small kindnesses of strangers can lift the weight from one’s shoulders.
Dreams
Summary: In this two-stanza poem, the speaker urges the reader to hold tightly to their dreams.
Summary: In this two-stanza poem, the speaker urges the reader to hold tightly to their dreams.
Selected Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins
I have read the following poems included in this collection (listed below with ratings):
- “Carrion Comfort”: The speaker describes his despair and wrestling with God. Rating: 4/5
- “God’s Grandeur”: The speaker lauds the inexhaustible glory with which God has endowed nature, which is not diminished by the actions of people. Rating: 2/5
- “Inversnaid”: The speaker expresses his desire that the wilderness remain present using the example of a river. Rating: 1.5/5
- “I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark”: The speaker laments the metaphorical darkness he finds himself in, a darkness which he believes is barely better than the darkness of hell. Rating: 2.5/5
- “No Worst, There is None”: The speaker expresses the agony of religious despair and the inward torture that humans can experience. Rating: 3/5
- “Pied Beauty”: The speaker praises the ever-beautiful God for the beauty of “dappled,” or spotted/patched things. Rating: 1.5/5
- “Spelt from Sibyl’s Leaves”: In this poem, a seer reads some leaves to prophesy about the Apocalypse and the condition of humanity. Rating: 2/5
- “Spring”: The uses the beauty of spring to frame his plea to God to preserve young minds. Rating: 1/5
- “That Nature Is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection”: The speaker says that everything is done away with by nature but takes comfort in the knowledge that humans will live again in the Resurrection of Christ. Rating: 3/5
- “Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord”: The speaker asks God why he allows him to suffer and sinners to thrive, all while affiring that God is just. Rating: 3/5
- “To R. B.”: This is Hopkins’ poem about the poetic process. He explains that poetry begins with a spark of inspiration, is formed in the mind of the poet, and finally comes out in the form of a poem, which may or may not be any good. Rating: 1/5
- “The Windhover”: The speaker realizes the superior vastness of God’s glory in light of his observation of a hawk. Rating: 1/5
I have read the following poems included in this collection (listed below with ratings):
- “Carrion Comfort”: The speaker describes his despair and wrestling with God. Rating: 4/5
- “God’s Grandeur”: The speaker lauds the inexhaustible glory with which God has endowed nature, which is not diminished by the actions of people. Rating: 2/5
- “Inversnaid”: The speaker expresses his desire that the wilderness remain present using the example of a river. Rating: 1.5/5
- “I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark”: The speaker laments the metaphorical darkness he finds himself in, a darkness which he believes is barely better than the darkness of hell. Rating: 2.5/5
- “No Worst, There is None”: The speaker expresses the agony of religious despair and the inward torture that humans can experience. Rating: 3/5
- “Pied Beauty”: The speaker praises the ever-beautiful God for the beauty of “dappled,” or spotted/patched things. Rating: 1.5/5
- “Spelt from Sibyl’s Leaves”: In this poem, a seer reads some leaves to prophesy about the Apocalypse and the condition of humanity. Rating: 2/5
- “Spring”: The uses the beauty of spring to frame his plea to God to preserve young minds. Rating: 1/5
- “That Nature Is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection”: The speaker says that everything is done away with by nature but takes comfort in the knowledge that humans will live again in the Resurrection of Christ. Rating: 3/5
- “Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord”: The speaker asks God why he allows him to suffer and sinners to thrive, all while affiring that God is just. Rating: 3/5
- “To R. B.”: This is Hopkins’ poem about the poetic process. He explains that poetry begins with a spark of inspiration, is formed in the mind of the poet, and finally comes out in the form of a poem, which may or may not be any good. Rating: 1/5
- “The Windhover”: The speaker realizes the superior vastness of God’s glory in light of his observation of a hawk. Rating: 1/5
Selected Poems of Gerard Manley Hopkins
I have read the following poems included in this collection (listed below with ratings):
- “Carrion Comfort”: The speaker describes his despair and wrestling with God. Rating: 4/5
- “God’s Grandeur”: The speaker lauds the inexhaustible glory with which God has endowed nature, which is not diminished by the actions of people. Rating: 2/5
- “Inversnaid”: The speaker expresses his desire that the wilderness remain present using the example of a river. Rating: 1.5/5
- “I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark”: The speaker laments the metaphorical darkness he finds himself in, a darkness which he believes is barely better than the darkness of hell. Rating: 2.5/5
- “No Worst, There is None”: The speaker expresses the agony of religious despair and the inward torture that humans can experience. Rating: 3/5
- “Pied Beauty”: The speaker praises the ever-beautiful God for the beauty of “dappled,” or spotted/patched things. Rating: 1.5/5
- “Spelt from Sibyl’s Leaves”: In this poem, a seer reads some leaves to prophesy about the Apocalypse and the condition of humanity. Rating: 2/5
- “Spring”: The uses the beauty of spring to frame his plea to God to preserve young minds. Rating: 1/5
- “That Nature Is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection”: The speaker says that everything is done away with by nature but takes comfort in the knowledge that humans will live again in the Resurrection of Christ. Rating: 3/5
- “Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord”: The speaker asks God why he allows him to suffer and sinners to thrive, all while affiring that God is just. Rating: 3/5
- “To R. B.”: This is Hopkins’ poem about the poetic process. He explains that poetry begins with a spark of inspiration, is formed in the mind of the poet, and finally comes out in the form of a poem, which may or may not be any good. Rating: 1/5
- “The Windhover”: The speaker realizes the superior vastness of God’s glory in light of his observation of a hawk. Rating: 1/5
I have read the following poems included in this collection (listed below with ratings):
- “Carrion Comfort”: The speaker describes his despair and wrestling with God. Rating: 4/5
- “God’s Grandeur”: The speaker lauds the inexhaustible glory with which God has endowed nature, which is not diminished by the actions of people. Rating: 2/5
- “Inversnaid”: The speaker expresses his desire that the wilderness remain present using the example of a river. Rating: 1.5/5
- “I Wake and Feel the Fell of Dark”: The speaker laments the metaphorical darkness he finds himself in, a darkness which he believes is barely better than the darkness of hell. Rating: 2.5/5
- “No Worst, There is None”: The speaker expresses the agony of religious despair and the inward torture that humans can experience. Rating: 3/5
- “Pied Beauty”: The speaker praises the ever-beautiful God for the beauty of “dappled,” or spotted/patched things. Rating: 1.5/5
- “Spelt from Sibyl’s Leaves”: In this poem, a seer reads some leaves to prophesy about the Apocalypse and the condition of humanity. Rating: 2/5
- “Spring”: The uses the beauty of spring to frame his plea to God to preserve young minds. Rating: 1/5
- “That Nature Is a Heraclitean Fire and of the Comfort of the Resurrection”: The speaker says that everything is done away with by nature but takes comfort in the knowledge that humans will live again in the Resurrection of Christ. Rating: 3/5
- “Thou Art Indeed Just, Lord”: The speaker asks God why he allows him to suffer and sinners to thrive, all while affiring that God is just. Rating: 3/5
- “To R. B.”: This is Hopkins’ poem about the poetic process. He explains that poetry begins with a spark of inspiration, is formed in the mind of the poet, and finally comes out in the form of a poem, which may or may not be any good. Rating: 1/5
- “The Windhover”: The speaker realizes the superior vastness of God’s glory in light of his observation of a hawk. Rating: 1/5
For the Sake of Strangers
Added to listPoetrywith 36 books.
Love III
Summary: The speaker insists on his own unworthiness; God--referred to as Love in this poem--responds with an invitation to dine.
Summary: The speaker insists on his own unworthiness; God--referred to as Love in this poem--responds with an invitation to dine.
Extreme Unction
Summary: The speaker ponders the freeing, sanctifying nature of extreme unction, which is a Catholic sacrament in which someone who is sick to the point of being in danger of death is anointed by a priest, and he wonders what his experience of being on death’s door will be like.
Summary: The speaker ponders the freeing, sanctifying nature of extreme unction, which is a Catholic sacrament in which someone who is sick to the point of being in danger of death is anointed by a priest, and he wonders what his experience of being on death’s door will be like.
Thirty Bob a Week
Summary: The speaker of this poem, a poor clerk, philosophizes about his place in society and how his nature and will led him to that place. The poem raises questions of free will, social responsibility, and the quality of the inner life.
Summary: The speaker of this poem, a poor clerk, philosophizes about his place in society and how his nature and will led him to that place. The poem raises questions of free will, social responsibility, and the quality of the inner life.
Address to the Nation on the Explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger
Summary: Ronald Reagan addresses the explosion of the Challenger, praising the bravery of its crew and offering comfort to their families and the nation.
Summary: Ronald Reagan addresses the explosion of the Challenger, praising the bravery of its crew and offering comfort to their families and the nation.