22 Comments

So much our culture can learn from!!

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Loved the wonderful details on their connection. I remember Eliot's poem because of the line "I have measured out my life in coffee spoons", and it was such a surprise to read Lewis' response to the "etherised" line with his own poem. Thanks for your continued, insightful expositions!

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Aug 19, 2023Liked by Joel J Miller

Fascinating!

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Brilliant!

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Aug 28, 2023Liked by Joel J Miller

Read this at 4:30 am and it perked me up almost like my first cup of coffee. Didn’t know a post about rivalry and grief could do this. And also a welcome reminder of how writing often paves the way to shared mourning and healing. Thank you.

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Loved this

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Eliot, a devout Anglo-Catholic, and having later written such an intense religious poem like Four Quartets it’s not surprising Lewis might become more tolerant of his early literary nuances. They shared a deep Faith. My understanding is that Eliot was transformed by his second marriage, becoming genuinely happy according to some. A more likable trait I'd say. I also think the two wives made a difference. Thanks again for another thoughtful post.

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Aug 20, 2023Liked by Joel J Miller

What an insightful and inspiring article! It’s a reminder and rebuke everyone of us needs. I often think about how we love those we set our affection on who have ideas we abhor, but because we love them they’re valuable and garner our devotion. We have our personal examples of how to “love the unlovable” along with our Elder Brother, Christ Jesus, as the best exemplar—let’s keep striving to be like Him!

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I never thought of those two as overlapping in terms of their connections. But they were contemporaries and it makes sense that they would have met. It’s good that they ultimately got along with each other. They were both talented men who made significant contributions in their own ways.

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Lovely! Thank you for this.

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Two poets trashing each other... so good to see that today’s rappers keep up this tradition. I always imagined that the writers of old, who would get together in a tavern to read their works and poems to each other was akin to, again, rappers doing the same on a street corner, or even some club. I definitely witnessed something of the sort (rappers) in high school during lunch breaks and gym classes.

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