Word & Song by Anthony Esolen

Word & Song by Anthony Esolen

Home
Notes
Books
Word of the Week
Hymn of the Week
Poem of the Week
Film of the Week
Poetry Aloud
Anthony Esolen Speaks
Sometimes a Song
Events & News
Archive
About
"Bridge over Troubled Water"
Paul Simon can be described as a poet with a head full of music. He was heavily influenced by the ballads of his early youth and the folk music revival…
 • 
Debra Esolen
25
PATRICK
You may be surprised to learn that Patrick was not an Irish name, but was a common Roman name, Patricius, meaning fatherly, or holding the authority of…
 • 
Anthony Esolen
7
6:50
Prayer for My Daughter
The poet is awake late at night overlooking the sea, as a storm rages outside. It’s not that he fears for himself, but his little child, a baby girl…
 • 
Anthony Esolen
10
8:29
What Wondrous Love Is This?
When I arrived in Chapel Hill, NC, as a new graduate student in English, I had never heard a single Appalachian hymn, nor was I aware that there were…
11
My New Year's Resolution
Anthony Esolen Speaks / Read or listen now.
 • 
Anthony Esolen
14
9:21
"Mama Tried"
What better place to look for "justice" than in a good old-fashioned Country & Western song?  Give a listen!
 • 
Debra Esolen
22
MELANCHOLY
Great characters in fiction are often prone to melancholy and need someone to brighten their days and keep them from indulging too much in sweet…
 • 
Anthony Esolen
9
7:12
MUSIC
Plato said that education is about getting the right music into your soul, or having your soul be formed and fashioned by it.
 • 
Anthony Esolen
14
5:19
HOLY
Holiness implies more than separateness. It implies a kind of perfection that goes beyond our what our words can describe of goodness, power, wisdom.
 • 
Anthony Esolen
6
5:59
Matins
George Herbert’s “Matins” is really a kind of dramatic poem, because the poet isn’t the only one awake at dawning. God has anticipated him!
 • 
Anthony Esolen
3
5:05
Leader of the Band
Dan Fogelberg's Tribute to His Father
 • 
Debra Esolen
9
"Men of Harlech"
Songs such as this have fallen out of favor in our times. But they teach us to meet with courage whatever battles we are called upon to fight.
 • 
Debra Esolen
14
© 2025 Anthony Esolen
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture