The Library of Babel Podcast

This was written, produced, and performed by me in a single day for the University of Chicago Scavenger Hunt.

So, John Donne was this excellent dude in the 17th century, which, if you look hard enough, you can see was full of excellent dudes. John's poetic career happened in two stages. First, he got married to a wicked excellent chick who he loved so much that he wrote her excellent poetry, which continues to make my (anonymous) female friend want to 'jump [John Donne's] bones.' Second, his wife died, and he started writing powerful religious poetry, like this poem. Donne got really sick, thought he was going to die, and penned this poem. Check out the excellent metaphor for death/heaven in the first stanza ('become Thy music'), and the cool parallels Donne draws among himself, Christ, and Adam in the final two stanzas ('As the first Adam's sweat surrounds my face [Donne's feverish sweating],/May the last Adam's blood my soul embrace). I really dig this poem. I hope y'all do, too.

Episode 14.1: After dark vapours have oppressed our plains by John Keats

Episode 13.1: To Autumn by John Keats

Episode 12.5: On the Grasshopper and Cricket by John Keats

Episode 12.4 Jabberwocky by Lewis Carrol

Episode 12.3: Weird-Bird and Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

Episode 12.2 Nothing is Lost by Noel Coward

This is the Library of Babel special Halloween episode. The Cask of Amontillado is my favorite Poe tale. The story is well-paced, with just the right blend of dread and suspense building throughout till the climax.

This is the Library of Babel special Halloween episode. The Cask of Amontillado is my favorite Poe tale. The story is well-paced, with just the right blend of dread and suspense building throughout till the climax.

In this story, a boy takes a bus to (humanist) Heaven.

In this story, a boy takes a bus to (humanist) Heaven.