“For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry” by Christopher Smart (1722-1771)

"For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry" is an excerpted poem from Smart's much longer (though now sadly existing in only fragments) poem cycle, Jubilate Agno. It is a wonderful poem, at first glance a naive consideration of the poet's cat, but upon deeper inspection, a joyous reveling in his cat's creatureliness and a meditation … Continue reading “For I will consider my Cat Jeoffry” by Christopher Smart (1722-1771)

Great poetry for Christmas: Robert Southwell, “New Heaven, New War”

Robert Southwell (1561-1595) was a Jesuit priest active in England who was accused of treason, imprisoned, tortured, and executed for his connections to the Church in Rome during the reign of Elizabeth I. This little babe, so few days old,Is come to rifle Satan’s fold;All hell doth at his presence quake.Though he himself for cold … Continue reading Great poetry for Christmas: Robert Southwell, “New Heaven, New War”