Category Archives: Poetry

“Ash Wednesday” by T.S. Eliot

Back in 2013, with a remnant of a cold, I read T. S. Eliot’s Ash Wednesday. It’s interesting to go back to that post and see the comments.  For example, Supertradmum is no longer with us.  Say a prayer for the repose … Read More

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OLDIE PODCAzT 127: The Eve of St. Agnes and a Bleak Midwinter

A friend reminded me that today is the Eve of St. Agnes, along with being the “birthday” of the Roman martyrs Marcellus, Prisca, Fabian, and Sebastian. Years ago – good grief 2012 – when I was reading poetry in podcasts … Read More

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The Blessed Virgin compared to the Air we Breathe

Fr. Hopkins (a Jesuit!) wrote this as a May offering for Mary in 1883, but I think it fits well today, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary… or any other Marian Feast! We cannot tire of honoring her in … Read More

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Another Romanaccio sonnet about “The New Pope” by G.G. Belli (1832)

The 19th c. poet Giuseppe Gioachino Belli… Er Belli. He wrote satirical sonnets in the Roman dialect about life in Rome and took deadly aim at Rome’s priests, religious, prelates and popes.   The speakers in the poems are shop keepers and … Read More

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A Sonnet “The Election of the Pope” in Roman dialect by G.G. Belli

We are privileged again to have another sonnet from the 19th c. poet Giuseppe Gioachino Belli… Er Belli. He wrote seriously funny sonnets in the Roman dialect about life in Rome and aimed deadly satire at Rome’s clerics, religious, prelates and … Read More

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Another Roman Sonnet from “Er Belli” – “The end of the conclave” (1831)

Here is another of the brilliant Roman dialect sonnets by Giuseppe Gioacchino Belli. Belli was a sharp observer of like in 19th c. Rome. L’upertura der concrave Senti, senti castello come spara! Senti montescitorio come sona! è sseggno ch’è ffinita … Read More

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Explanation of a how a Conclave works: another Roman dialect sonnet “der Belli”

It’s sede vacante time and all eyes are turned to Rome in anticipation of a conclave. It is appropriate to have an expert explanation of exactly how a conclave works.  Forget the TV pundits and Know-It-Alls in the Catholic press.  … Read More

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Another Roman dialect sonnet about the papal funeral in St. Peter’s

Once again we are privileged to have another sonnet from the 19th c. poet Giuseppe Gioachino Belli… Er Belli. He wrote seriously funny sonnets in the Roman dialect about life in Rome and aimed deadly satire at Rome’s clerics, religious, prelates … Read More

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“Ash Wednesday” by T.S. Eliot

Back in 2013, with a remnant of a cold, I read T. S. Eliot’s Ash Wednesday. It’s interesting to go back to that post and see the comments.  For example, Supertradmum is no longer with us.  Say a prayer for the repose … Read More

Posted in Linking Back, Poetry | Tagged ,
1 Comment

A Poetry ‘Encounter’ for Candlemas: “A Song For Simeon” by T.S. Eliot

Tomorrow is traditionally the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is also known as Candlemas.   There are references to light in the liturgy and we bless candles. Candlemas is the conclusion of the Advent/Christmas cycle.  We … Read More

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