Today, May 19, is when Oscar Wilde was released from prison in Reading England. That was in 1897. Once the darling of literary London and high society, Wilde’s brilliant career had been destroyed by a scandal involving young male prostitutes and a prosecution he largely brought on himself. Wilde had served two years of hard … Continue reading Oscar Wilde – On His Release From Prison
According to Garrison Keillor, March 24 was “the birthday of the poet, publisher, and bookstore owner Lawrence Ferlinghetti, born in Yonkers, New York (1919). . . . He went to college at the University of North Carolina and then joined the Navy during World War II, where he was the commander of a 110-foot ship. … Continue reading Ferlinghetti: A Birthday & A Favorite Beatnik Poem
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807–1892). “In War Time” Anniversary Poem Somewhat revised Read before the Alumni of the Friends’ Yearly Meeting School, at the Annual Meeting at Newport, R. I., 15th 6th mo., 1863. [Written during another war, it resonates with a current one, and is edited here to highlight those echoes.] … Continue reading Whittier: “In War Time”
Writing Quaker history & theology is not exactly the road to fame and fortune. But a few still take it, and among those of the passing generation, one that I most admire is Douglas Gwyn, who is always Doug to me. One reason for admiration is that Doug has produced some outstanding work. My favorite … Continue reading Free Quaker Music from Songster/Theologian Doug Gwyn: Now Online
It’s Whittier’s birthday. John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) is now mostly thought of as a very old-fashioned conventional poet, who can be dispensed with in light of modern notions of verse and literary values. But I think such a dismissal misses a big point which should give us pause today: Whittier was also a very public … Continue reading Whittier’s 214th Birthday: The Peace-loving Quaker War Poet