Poetry Unbound – Dante Micheaux: Theologies for Korah

Host: Pádraig Ó Tuama
Date: February 2, 2026

Main Theme

In this episode of Poetry Unbound, host Pádraig Ó Tuama immerses listeners in Dante Micheaux’s poem Theologies for Korah, exploring its religious imagery, deep affection, and heretical wit. Addressed to a baby—likely for a baptism or naming ceremony—the poem navigates faith, independent thought, and the responsibilities of guiding a new life. Ó Tuama reflects on the poem’s provocations and the seriousness with which it considers the world the child enters, blending reverence, rebellion, and humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Setting and Occasion of the Poem

• Occasional Poem: Ó Tuama explains that this isn’t an “occasional poem” in the casual sense, but one written for a sacred ritual: the baptism or dedication of a child, possibly named Korah (02:15).
• Godparent Role: The speaker in the poem is likely a godparent, tasked with guiding the child through life, “laughing with his heretic theology” (03:08).
• Religious but Not Naive: The poem speaks to a baby, but avoids baby talk—navigating religious language with complexity and irony:

  “He doesn’t ignore religion. He looks at and with and through it, speaking to the child about the life of the world and the life of the mind.” (04:02)

Highlights of the Three Excerpted Sections

Part 1: John the Baptist and Truth-Telling

• Religious Wildness: The poem adopts imagery of John the Baptist—outcast prophet, eater of locusts, living in the wilderness.
• Danger and Honesty: Reference is made to John’s fate (beheaded for telling truth to power)—mirrored in the speaker’s vow:

  “I have learned to retain my head while speaking truth.” (08:31, quoting the poem)

• Teaching for Life: Ó Tuama sees this as “a way to usher in a life to a child, and for all of us—powerful, necessary.” (09:12)

Part 2: The Rites of Baptism

• Questioning Rituals: The poem riffs on liturgical phrases and critiques traditional symbols, especially the sign of the cross:

  “There is no miracle in an instrument of death.” (09:43–09:52, quoting the poem)

• Irreverence and Integrity: This line makes Ó Tuama laugh out loud and becomes a personal mantra:

  “Over and over again it has become something like a protection for me.” (10:02)

• Skepticism Toward Authority: The poem pokes fun at apostolic succession and the sometimes arbitrary wielding of religious power.

Part 3: Catherine of Siena as Model

• Mystic and Powerbroker: Catherine, a young mystic, receives “gifts” and is urged to use intellect.
• Respect for the Mind:

  “The Christ commanded her to open the eye of her intellect and gaze into him.” (10:52, quoting the poem)

• Letter of a ‘Lunatic Diplomat’: Her correspondence is described as “heated, virtuous, sweet, amorous word of honor. God.”

The Broader Provocation

• Courage, Warnings, Respect: Ó Tuama feels Micheaux is providing the child with “courage and warnings about the world and deep respect for something intuitive in her that she would nonetheless need to hone and focus.” (12:30)
• Minding Metaphors:

  “Not telling her to open her eyes, he rejects that metaphor, but telling her to open her mind.” (12:50)

• Love and Responsibility: The poem is a sign of “how much the poet loved this child and took such responsibility…to be some kind of guide or godfather.” (13:45)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Reflections

• “I have learned to retain my head while speaking truth.” (08:31, Dante Micheaux)
• “There is no miracle in an instrument of death.” (09:43, Dante Micheaux)
• “You are creation, the same after water and after the Holy Spirit. Only now you see the door to life and unto the kingdom of God. Do not feel the need of any claimant to royal priesthood. Some ancient calling himself Peter must have been in his cups when he wrote that… Phooey.” (08:58, Dante Micheaux)
• “All power in heaven and earth is no questions, be opened. Hold fast to my teachings, not those of stewards, but my words. Seek you, first girl, the kingdom of my love with all your mind, all your mind, do not forget your mind, you are mine.” (12:55, Dante Micheaux)
• “This is anything but baby talk.” (04:06, Pádraig Ó Tuama)
• “It’s a conundrum to be put in, to be asked by a poet to choose favorite parts of their poem when so much of the poem is a full favorite. But I’ll find a way to include some quotes throughout the rest of the reflection.” (04:53)
• “I love that even though it takes place in a religious setting, its orientation has got such rich dignity and thinking and acting and rebellion and heresy and integrity and power at the heart of it.” (14:27)

Important Timestamps & Segments

• 00:02-02:15 — Opening personal anecdote about babies and welcome to “Theologies for Korah”
• 03:08-04:06 — Introduction to Dante Micheaux and the occasion for the poem
• 08:31 — “I have learned to retain my head while speaking truth.” (poem excerpt)
• 09:43-09:52 — “There is no miracle in an instrument of death.” (poem excerpt)
• 10:52 — Catherine of Siena and the invitation to intellectual openness
• 12:30 — Reflections on loving responsibility and warning the child of the world
• 12:50-13:30 — Quoting the poem’s encouragement to “open the mind” rather than just the eyes
• 14:27 — Host’s personal admiration and summary of the poem’s reach and character

Notable Quotes with Attribution

• Dante Micheaux [as read by Pádraig Ó Tuama]:
  • “I have learned to retain my head while speaking truth.” (08:31)
  • “There is no miracle in an instrument of death.” (09:43)
  • "You are creation, the same after water and after the Holy Spirit. Only now you see the door to life and unto the kingdom of God." (08:58)
  • "All power in heaven and earth is … be opened … Seek you, first girl, the kingdom of my love with all your mind, do not forget your mind, you are mine." (12:55)
• Pádraig Ó Tuama:
  • “This is anything but baby talk.” (04:06)
  • “I love this poem so much. I want to have been at that baptism, that ritual, that naming dedication of the child.” (14:09)
  • “What a way to usher in a life to a child, and for all of us—powerful, necessary.” (09:12)
  • “…its orientation has got such rich dignity and thinking and acting and rebellion and heresy and integrity and power at the heart of it.” (14:27)

Tone and Language

• Deeply affectionate, warm, wryly irreverent
• Honoring both the sacred and the skeptical
• Compassionate responsibility toward the next generation
• Playful yet serious in addressing faith, ritual, intellect, and love

Summary

This Poetry Unbound episode brings listeners into the layered world of Dante Micheaux’s “Theologies for Korah,” focusing on how love and heresy can coexist in the sphere of religious ritual. Ó Tuama’s reflection is informed by personal experience, long admiration for the poem, and close attention to the nuances of religious and poetic language. The episode is a meditation on how to welcome a new life into “the big world,” not with platitudes but with candor, courage, and an exhortation to honor the independence of mind.