Three Modern Poems You Should Know: by Elizabeth Bishop, James Merrillm, Walace Stevens

In three lectures followed by discussion, Margaret Soltan, Emerita, George Washington Universit y, will analyze three increasingly philosophical modern poems: Cape Breton by Elizabeth Bishop Santorini: Stopping the Leak by James Merrill Sunday Morning by Wallace Stevens All three do what most of the poetry of our secular time does - they elaborate on the essential mystery of life, and they seek meaning through engaging in that mystery in various deeply expressive settings -- Cape Breton, Nova Scotia; the volcanic Greek island of Santorini; and an unspecified mountain setting of great beauty. The poets try to read, and try to help us read, the human and natural world that surrounds and sometimes seems to speak to us. We'll consider both the verbal brilliance of these famous poems, and the metaphysical suggestions within them. Saturdays, October 3, 10, 17, 2026 2:00 to 3:00 PM