Selected works with an emphasis on Sowder and Shakespeare.
House under the moon BY michael sowder
Michael Sowder’s new collection of poetry is House Under the Moon.
“Through transcendent, lyric verse, these poems explore the spiritual struggle for harmony between the contemporary and contemplative life.”
Although these powerful poems are poems of the world, they are also poems of the spirit. Michael Sowder is a rarity among the poets of his generation—indeed, among the poets of any generation. He is a seeker, a searcher after meaning, a yearner for consequence. He knows that the secret message of poetry is connection, and he knows that to turn inward and find the spirit is also to discover the spirit moving through the world. These graceful and stirring poems make those magical connections. Sowder has matured into one of our finest spiritual poets. This is a book of deep and lasting beauty. – David Bottoms
"Poet and writer Michael Sowder is an associate professor of English and an adjunct professor of religious studies at Utah State University. His poetry and writing explore themes of wilderness, Buddhism, yoga, poetics and fatherhood.
A long-time meditation teacher, he is the founder of the Amrita Sangha for Integral Spirituality, an nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring and teaching the wisdom of the world’s contemplative traditions. Part of his work includes teaching meditation and creative writing in jails and prisons." – http://www.michaelsowder.org/about/
THE TAMING OF THE SHREW BY W. SHAKESPEARE
"While The Taming of the Shrew is not one of the Shakespearean plays traditionally taught in English courses, the lively comic plot and appealing characters make it an excellent introduction to the Bard. Because the play deals with relationships between several different "courting" couples, it can capture the attention of adolescents and spark lively debate on the age-old "battle of the sexes."
Less able readers can enjoy the action and intrigue of the story. They will also be able to appreciate the theme of the play: the problems that arise when people are expected to conform to the roles society expects them to play. More able readers will understand the contradictions between plot and subplot and the role of deception. All students will be able to compare the play to modern versions of the story, while more able students can look for parallels in literature. Study of The Taming of the Shrew offers students the opportunity to compare social customs surrounding courtship and marriage from Elizabethan England to those of other countries and to modern America. The play can promote important discussions about the role of respect, deception, romance, caring, and violence in the relationships between men and women."