Archive for September, 2009

Joan Houlihan writes a symbolic epic poem in her new book, "The Us," and leads a lively poetry center in the hometown of Emerson, Thoreau and the first "American Renaissance."

James Morone, historian of presidents on healthcare from FDR to Barack Obama, says passion, speed and arm-twisting make the difference between LBJ's Medicare success and every other president's frustration.

Pulitzer Prize poet Franz Wright draws on a life of mental illness, addiction and day-to-day recovery -- mining his own suffering, as T. S. Eliot said of Beaudelaire, "for theoretical purposes."

Regie Gibson, in our poets' series, is a slam champ who lives "between page and stage" and draws on both Homer and rap.

Jill McDonough leads off a poetry series: "Whose Words These Are." Her links are to traditional forms, Shakespeare, politics, prisons and four centures of official executions in the US.

Rory Stewart, the Kipling-esque adventurer who walked across Afghanistan, explains his judgment that the Obama escalation of the war is built on "nonsense."

If Isaac Newton, the "foundational" modern scientist, could visit MIT, the science mecca today, where would the conversations go?

Patrick Keefe's scandalous immigration saga "Snakehead" recounts horrific risks Chinese illegals take to get to America and asks tough questions of us natives who got here the easy way.

Howard Dean, on Obama's left flank, says healthcare without a 'public option' is a defeat for the president and the people.