Happy St Patrick’s Day! This day in 432 is the traditional date when Saint Patrick, aged about 16 is captured by Irish pirates from his home in Great Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland. He escaped after six years and returned to Britain, where he studied Christianity and was ordained a priest. HeContinue reading “Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with William Butler Yeats”
Category Archives: I’m Reading Poetry
Milestones: Alfred, Lord Tennyson & Dante Gabriel Rossetti
A Gathering of Friends September 27, 1855, Alfred Tennyson read from his new book Maud and Other Poems at a social gathering in the home of Robert and Elizabeth Browning in London. Dante Gabriel Rossetti was one of the guests. As Alfred Tennyson read from his collection, Dante Rossetti was inspired to make a sketchContinue reading “Milestones: Alfred, Lord Tennyson & Dante Gabriel Rossetti”
Milestones: Emily Dickinson
“If I read a book and it makes my whole body so cold no fire can ever warm me, I know that is poetry.” Emily Dickinson On August 10, 1847, Emily Dickinson graduated from Amherst Academy, where she studied English and classical literature, Latin, botany, geology, history, “mental philosophy,” and arithmetic. The study of “mentalContinue reading “Milestones: Emily Dickinson”
Milestones: In Flanders Fields
May 3, 1915, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, soldier, surgeon, artist, and poet, writes “In Flanders Fields.” This poem is read on Remembrance Day November 11th. Join me in reciting “In Flanders Fields.” In Flanders Fields By John McCraeIn Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in theContinue reading “Milestones: In Flanders Fields”
Milestones: Alfred Tennyson
November 19, 1850, Alfred Tennyson was named Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom. I understand that he accepted this honour on the condition that birthday odes would not be required of him.
Celebrating Halloween with Carl Sandburg
Join me in reciting “Theme in Yellow” by Carl Sandburg! Happy Halloween!
The Poetry of Rupert Brooke
On this day in 1887, English poet Rupert Brooke, described by W.B. Yeats as “the handsomest young man in England,” is born. Rupert Chawner Brooke is known for his idealist war sonnets written at the beginning of WWI. While his poem,“The Soldier,” also known as “Nineteen-Fourteen: The Soldier” was immediately popular, looking back there isContinue reading “The Poetry of Rupert Brooke”
Poetry in Brief – a day in a life – by Jean-Jacques Fournier
I had been checking the mail awaiting a special arrival. Two days ago, I received the package that held the first edition of Jean-Jacques Fournier’s poetry book, Poetry in Brief – a day in a life -. I had already downloaded the e-book format, but there is something wonderful about feeling the pages turn andContinue reading “Poetry in Brief – a day in a life – by Jean-Jacques Fournier”
Celebrating Ireland with Armergin
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Tradition maintains that on March 17, in the year 432, Saint Patrick, at the young age of 16, was captured by Irish pirates from his home in Great Britain and taken as a slave to Ireland. Little did the pirates know that this young man would be an agent for changeContinue reading “Celebrating Ireland with Armergin”
Celebrating Robert Burns with Dr. Leith Davis
Tonight, we celebrate Robert Burns, affectionately known as Rabbie Burns, the great Scottish poet and lyricist. He has been given the honoured titles of National Bard, Bard of Ayrshire and the Ploughman Poet. He penned in the language of the Scots, even though much of his writing is in light Scots dialect and in English.Continue reading “Celebrating Robert Burns with Dr. Leith Davis”
On The Road Book Club 