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Divining Divinity

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Clouds clustered in pagan grey
Turn a mythic, mystic rose;
Heaven's heralds of the day,
Burning embers, amber glows.
~ from "Solstice Sunrise" by Joseph Pearce

In these prosaic times we need poetry to lift us beyond ourselves and everything around us. Divining Divinity: A Book of Poems by Joseph Pearce contains verse both whimsical and deep, from poems written in the youth of the author to those about the spiritual life. Dr. Pearce, known for his marvelous books about the great literary giants of the last few generations, gives us another format in which to enjoy his way with words. Brimming with a living faith and a love of God's creation, influenced by both Dante and Tolkien, this small collection of poems evokes prayerful thoughts in the reader as well as moments of humor and pure enchantment.

(*NOTE: This book was sent to me by the author as a prize won in a contest held by the Catholic Writers Conference Live.)

A great man once said something along the lines of, "You can get to know a great man, through the great works he has written."

The paraphrased quote above was said by biographer Joseph Pearce, in reference to the many great men he has written about. Now, it is his turn. This is our chance to get to know him. After having read this book easily in one sitting, I would rather review it now than after having read it many times, and give my rough first impression.

It begins and ends the same way - with awe and humble thanksgiving in acknowledgement of the Divineness of Love. In between, we find words that bring different pictures to mind, the illustrations that accompany them (done by Jef Murray), starkly presented. Beyond that, I'll give away the chillingness of, "Preyer" - and the pointed whimsy to be found in, "The Hedgehog."

But not a word more.


*This book, and the Map of the Directions to which its point points.