Wherever the Poem Takes Us

Posted on by Michele Morin

A perfect Saturday:  a hand-holding walk with a patient man, an antique store, a cafe, and, finally, a beach with two lawn chairs.  In the company of the Atlantic Ocean, the summer sun, and my snoozing husband, I was introduced to a new poet — Marjorie Maddox  — in my meandering read through True, False, None of the Above, a song about life in the key of grace.

Based on her reading, her teaching, and her embrace of a life of faith, Marjorie’s poetry examines important themes with clarity and an open-mindedness that spurs the heart on to more pondering.

To jump start your worship:  Unlike God we tilt and turn, but “the Trinity’s still point throws no shadow.”  “His face is the greater flame, but doesn’t flicker.”

To celebrate beauty in nature:  Marjorie notices and then reports.  As it happens, “lightening does, after all, saw through space — a jagged bread knife of sharp.”

Events from the evening news find their way into Marjorie’s poems along with whispered prayers over dirty dishes and clean laundry.  It is a delight when poetic imagery illuminates daily tasks and decisions — even the generational do-si-do of storing people’s stuff and then throwing it away to make room for new memories in “this world of want.”  It is a blessing to find images from an ancient Book reconfigured so that this time there is no favoritism — both Jacob and Esau have received a poem.  And on a perfect summer afternoon, it’s pure bliss to open a book, to read it slowly enough to savor images, and then just to “go wherever the poem takes us.”

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This book was provided by the publisher in exchange for my review.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Published by Michele Morin

Michele Morin is a Bible teacher, writer, reader, and gardener committed to the truth that women can become confident Christ-followers and students of God's Word. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty-plus years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and six adorable grandchildren. Michele loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.” She blogs at Living Our Days, and you can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

41 thoughts on “Wherever the Poem Takes Us”

  5. What a calming post to read, Michele! That sound like a book I might need to have around. Your Saturday afternoon sounds perfect. Blessings to you!

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  8. This makes me want to tip-toe into this book: “a song about life in the key of grace.” I’m not really into poetry but partially because I think it’s too slow. Not a good reason. ha. I need to slow down and poetry may be just the ticket there. Thanks for this review, Michele.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes . . . the slowness, but I’d never thought of it that way — and am actually a very fast reader, but the poets and C.S. Lewis force me to s .. l .. o .. w.. down — and I’m so glad!

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  9. I so enjoy the imagery of good words and whole words that poetry presents to us. Of course, I am always blessed by the book choices you share, Michele. Thanks for linking this up at #GraceMoments!
    Blessings!
    Dawn

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  11. That’s delightful finding a poem or set of poems that speak so much of our Maker.😇

    How have you been friend? Have you checked out the new book on Amazon and good reads?
    Blessings to you

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    1. Wow! I didn’t realize it would be there already. I see that it isn’t eligible to be reviewed as of yet. I’ll keep watching and post a review soon. (I did notice that it’s ok to post to Goodreads, so I’ve got to get moving!)

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  14. That is my kind of Saturday, Michele. I’m not much on poetry, sad I know. I have a couple of little books my grandmother left me, I think I need to pull them out and learn to take the time to read and enjoy them. Thank you for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.

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    1. Start with small doses. Memorize one that speaks to you. So much of the Bible is poetry that reading it elsewhere makes me appreciate the genre more wherever I find it!

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  18. Thanks so much for linking up with What to Read Wednesday. Your post was the most clicked from last week and will be the feature on this week’s post. I hope you’ll link up with us again! 🙂

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  24. […] If you enjoy poetry, you’ll love True, False, None of the Above.  Based on her reading, her teaching, and her embrace of a life of faith, Marjorie’s poetry examines important themes with clarity and an open-mindedness that spurs the heart on to more pondering.  You can read my review (written from a beach chair) here. […]

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