I skipped over Patmore because of his name in all my years studying English literature, and now I wish I hadn't! And I almost skipped this today because I thought that portrait was of him! I am a life lesson about prejudice and ignorance, kids.
My friends and I hope the atrocities in Ukraine will reunite these United States. It’s time for this nation to stand up to the bully. Thanks for helping
Authoritarianism has been gaining ground until now because it has succeeded in dividing us against each other. While the assholes still abound, and the lying Republicans keep on lying, I've been getting this feeling lately of a powerful good that has emerged as we come together against an evil actor. Here's hoping that truth does prevail.
We are taught from birth that good triumphs over evil. We see it in books, movies, plays, and other media. Sometimes, most times, we see it in real life too. We helped defeat Hitler. We killed Osama bin Laden. We defeated Donald Trump, and let's face it, defeating Putin is only a matter of time (for Ukraine, hopefully the shortest time possible). I share your optimism, although some days it's hard. In the end, good WILL triumph!
As for those pins: with the optimism of the first paragraph behind me, I'm still cynical enough about Republicans to think that those Ukrainian pins were gifts from Nancy Pelosi with the advice to wear them. They would have never done it on their own until they realized the self-interest involved. They don't even care about Americans, why would they care about Ukrainians?
I am right along with you regarding your sentiments that we will prevail in coming out of this nightmare. It is human nature to have those wishes. I just can’t help but think of my parents and their escape plans from the Nazis. I also feel the R’s like lying snot-nosed McCarthy and I-can’t-believe-I-survived-a vicious-attack Scalise aren’t somehow beholden to Russia, either through the oligarchs or to Putin himself. It is something that weighs on my mind.
I sincerely believe the behavior of McCarthy, Scalise, Jim Jordon and a number of others can be attributed to ignorance and possibly mental impairment.
They easily fit into cultish thinking.
The years of Louisiana political actions surprises me that the Ocean hasn't absorbed whats left of the silt.
The Louisiana bird-foot delta is a catastrophe waiting to happen. In addition to Cajun refugees, we could have used a few Dutch refugees. You know, people who know how to hold back the sea.
Good for you! What you say here is all the more reason to consult our poets, old and more recent; and to go back into long-ago published and now neglected anthologies and look through the entries carefully for those now overlooked.
Thank You Greg. Sharing. We all need this.
When none cares whether it prevails or not...
I skipped over Patmore because of his name in all my years studying English literature, and now I wish I hadn't! And I almost skipped this today because I thought that portrait was of him! I am a life lesson about prejudice and ignorance, kids.
I'd never heard of him before seeing his name in the book. He has his moments!
Thank you. Perfect for the day.
There are things greater than our human selves, regardless of how many footnotes or mentions in history textbooks. TY 4 this reminder
Huzzah!
Is this April Fool's Day? Are you writing under the name Coventry Patmore?
Heehee.
"snowy woods" "purple nail polish" "four houses at Hogwort's rival wizard school"
You're on a roll today, Greg. LOL
Thanks!
My friends and I hope the atrocities in Ukraine will reunite these United States. It’s time for this nation to stand up to the bully. Thanks for helping
It IS penetrating the bubble. Hopefully it will have lasting power.
This is a rare moment in time for poets to make a difference.
Ukraine is not a war. It’s a genocidal purge. Putin’s intent is to exterminate everyone who favors freedom
Authoritarianism has been gaining ground until now because it has succeeded in dividing us against each other. While the assholes still abound, and the lying Republicans keep on lying, I've been getting this feeling lately of a powerful good that has emerged as we come together against an evil actor. Here's hoping that truth does prevail.
I get the same sensations, and then I warn myself not to indulge in magical thinking. Hope does spring eternal, doesn't it?
It helps to have a face of evil, and an enemy we can all agree on. Well, almost all...
I agree. Evil must be made real.
And victims who are real to us. Everyone I know is responding as if all Ukrainians were family members. It's beautiful.
Don't hate me for pointing out that they're real to us because they look like us. That fact has to be particularly hard for MAGATs to square.
I think that too--of course after posting!
Of course, someone has to say it, so it may as well be me. LOL.
Red, puffy, moon-shaped, tiny eyes, pug nose, smirk. Ew!
Smite the rotten liars
Yes! Smite!
Thank you Greg. Perfect piece! Love that the penultimate line ties in so nicely with the theme of your title.
That was a fortuitous surprise!
I'll bet. For some some reason I am comforted that a poem from centuries ago speaks so eloquently of the challenges we face today.
Thanks, Greg, I hope your optimism prevails.
We are taught from birth that good triumphs over evil. We see it in books, movies, plays, and other media. Sometimes, most times, we see it in real life too. We helped defeat Hitler. We killed Osama bin Laden. We defeated Donald Trump, and let's face it, defeating Putin is only a matter of time (for Ukraine, hopefully the shortest time possible). I share your optimism, although some days it's hard. In the end, good WILL triumph!
As for those pins: with the optimism of the first paragraph behind me, I'm still cynical enough about Republicans to think that those Ukrainian pins were gifts from Nancy Pelosi with the advice to wear them. They would have never done it on their own until they realized the self-interest involved. They don't even care about Americans, why would they care about Ukrainians?
I know, Steve. I despair even though I know despair isn't an option.
Oh, I think they wouldn't wear the pins unless they feared the voters. And these are dudes in safe red districts.
That's hopeful.
I am right along with you regarding your sentiments that we will prevail in coming out of this nightmare. It is human nature to have those wishes. I just can’t help but think of my parents and their escape plans from the Nazis. I also feel the R’s like lying snot-nosed McCarthy and I-can’t-believe-I-survived-a vicious-attack Scalise aren’t somehow beholden to Russia, either through the oligarchs or to Putin himself. It is something that weighs on my mind.
I sincerely believe the behavior of McCarthy, Scalise, Jim Jordon and a number of others can be attributed to ignorance and possibly mental impairment.
They easily fit into cultish thinking.
The years of Louisiana political actions surprises me that the Ocean hasn't absorbed whats left of the silt.
Lou-eeze-e-anna, they're tryin' to wash us away...tryin' to wash us away.
The Americas land masses were doing just fine until about 1450.
The Louisiana bird-foot delta is a catastrophe waiting to happen. In addition to Cajun refugees, we could have used a few Dutch refugees. You know, people who know how to hold back the sea.
I honestly don’t believe they have any mental impairment other than they are unadulterated dicks!!
Sounds right
"Unadulterated dicks" i had to give that a mintue to come to a head. I think it might qualify as Walter Winchells description of Slanguage.
The clinical term for that (coined by moi) is "testosterone poisoning".
Scientists indicate that females have evolved to the point males are no longer necessary. Maybe thats what Elizabeth Kolbert was getting at?
Hmmmm
Humming a tune?
Stupidity, lack of ethics, lack of empathy, ego, lust for power...all of it.
The harkening back to escaping Nazis is horrifying. All of those GOP are in bed with the Russians. It's just a matter of degree.
They just keep forgetting Stalin was with Hitler before Hitler shafted him.
And Chuck Bukowski said,
"I lie as truthfully as I can."
Good for you! What you say here is all the more reason to consult our poets, old and more recent; and to go back into long-ago published and now neglected anthologies and look through the entries carefully for those now overlooked.
There are some gems for sure. And my god, I LOVE that Penguin anthlogy.