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Book Review: In a Strange Land-Ten Kingdom Poets
The kingdom of God has been compared throughout the Gospels as everything from a pearl of great price, to a vineyard, a man going on a journey, a mustard seed, a field of wheat and many more. And if the Kingdom of God had poets, which I’m sure it does, then you’d find their work in the slim volume “In a Strange Land-Introducing Ten Kingdom Poets” from Poiema Poetry Series (ed. DS Martin). Editor Martin explains the occasion of this printing, “This poetry collection gathers into one volume works by ten talented poets who…each (are) well deserving of having their own full-length poetry books, but as of April, 2019 have…
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Laura Kauffman-Carolina Clay
Editors at Whale Road Review were kind enough to feature my interview with the ridiculously talented Laura Kauffman. Here is “Grounded in Poetry” from WRR’s online journal, March 2020 Carolina Clay by Laura Kauffman Dustlings Press, 2019 Laura Kauffman is a poet and writer from the Loess Hills of Iowa. She is the author of Carolina Clay: A Collection of Poems on Love and Loss. Her writing gifts also include the creative work of Typeset Poetry: Words for Your Wall, a collaboration with Emily Queen. She had some remarkable responses to my questions. Her fresh take on language shows up in this interview as well as in her book. I’m learning…
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We Were Made for Connection
Last week I wrote about#loveinthetimeofthecorona–illuminating what or how we can embody love in the world in these very challenging times, especially as believers in Jesus. (And? Did you know, #loveinthetimeofthecorona is actually a hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. If you are on either of those social media platforms, type in the hashtag and be inspired.) I was originally going to title this wrap-up, “Thank you Al Gore for the Internet” (which is partially true. Thank you Wikipedia). People all over the globe are working and connecting and chatting via Zoom and Facetime, Facebook live and Marco Polo videos and so on, all thanks to the world wide web. How starved…
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Five Female Poets of Faith
One thing the world needs is for more people to read poetry. Especially from female writers of a certain age who identify as people of faith. I hope you enjoy this small round up and hope you’ll take the time to read more of their work via the links provided. You will be richer for it. –Abigail Carroll That I Might Dwell That I might dwell in warbler song, in fields of sorrel, fields of stars, that dwelling in your house I’d know, I’d rest, I’d play at wonder. Oh that I might dwell in pine-branched shade, among the sway, among the praise of oak-fern, …
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Female Faith Poet-Tania Runyan
With Tania at AWP Conference–Seattle WA Some poets’ work take your breath away or stop you in your tracks with an ‘aha’! Some will challenge you to see the world a different way than before. Tania Runyan‘s work does all that. Of her many works, her two volumes of poetry based on Scripture prompts intrigued me the most. “Second Sky” is full of Pauline-Epistle-inspired musings, “Thousand Vessels'” pays a powerful and provocative tribute to 12 women of the Bible. When I found out Tania would be in Seattle last Spring for the AWP Conference (Assn. of Writers and Writing Programs), I took the day off…
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The Joy of Poetry-Megan Willome
“What if there were no poetry? What if all life were prose? Some people wouldn’t mind. One friend told me her son didn’t know how to do imaginative play. He lined up his action figures and then shrugged and walked away. He didn’t know what else to do. Poetry gives you an idea of what to do, or at least the idea that something more can be done.” Megan Willome, “The Joy of Poetry” p. 138 When I mention to people that I’m reading a book of poetry the response is often, “I’m not into poetry. I just don’t get it.” If I tell them I WRITE poetry, they look…
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Female Faith Poet-Laurie Klein
Laurie Klein and I first met online after I’d been following her work in print for a number of years. We share a common decade and a love of poetry and song. I then discovered she was blogging and we’ve been corresponding ever since. Laurie is the author of the prize-winning chapbook ‘Bodies of Water, Bodies of Flesh’ and the classic praise chorus ”I Love You, Lord.” Her poems and prose have appeared in many publications, including Ascent, The Southern Review, Atlanta Review, Terrain, and the Holman Personal Worship Bible. She is a recipient of the Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred. Her most recent release in the…
