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Homeric Similes

      Homeric Similes “These similes serve to take the reader away from the battlefield for a brief while, into the world of pre-war peace and plenty. Often, they occur at a moment of high action or emotion, especially during a battle. In the words of Peter Jones,...

Imperfection as Perfection

  Imperfection as Perfection Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem The eyes are white and wide.  They look as spare As Orpheus’s when he lost his wife. Yet Alexander never knew such bare And sand-dune...

Ancient Greek, Then Church Latin, Symposium, Scriptorium

Ancient Greek, Then Church Latin,         Symposium, Scriptorium “Readers of Greek poetry constituted an élite, as in the Middle Ages readers of Latin did.” ~ Michael Schmidt, The First Poets, 13 “The symposiasts drank rather too much watered wine, wore crowns,...

Aurora Actuality

          Aurora Actuality “We can confirm almost nothing about Homer and Hesiod, yet we have no problem, even when we should, believing in them.” ~ Michael Schmidt, The First Poets, 22 Who doubts that Homer, Hesiod, the old And oldest poets ever lived?  Why should...

Constitutional Slaughter: Connecticut, Nevada, Florida, Texas

         Constitutional Slaughter: Connecticut, Nevada, Florida, Texas Modern poetry  modern verse  contemporary poetry  contemporary verse modern poem contemporary poem “Stronger than lover’s love is lover’s hate.” ~ Medea, Euripides The women don’t do this, except...