Hello everyone.
Today is a bit different.
I want to shout out work by not only an absolutely incredible author but a constant source of profound inspiration in my life. I am biased, of course, but then I’ve declared my relationship to the author in question in the title of this post!
I’m talking about my wonderful father.
My dad is a poet. Quite a major one too. What I mean by that is not necessarily that he’s famous or sold lots of books, although there are cases to be made for both, but rather than his work is sort of revolutionary.
We are at a tipping point now in the West in which we have railed so stridently against tradition, have argued so volubly against meaning and truth, that now to create within traditional frameworks, to honour the past, and to embody religious values has become a radical act.
Every day, I see people posting on Substack that they would like to read more poets and see more poetry. Well, here is your chance. The Burning Word is a frankly masterful collection of poems spanning a fifty-year writing career, bridging the gap between old and new, traditional and modern, formal and free. There are poems here written with a young man’s burning ardour, and poems written in the “recollected tranquility” of older age. There are poems here about direct encounters with God, and poems about more humanistic concerns: a battle with cancer, the loss of loved ones, the hell of self-doubt—and the triumph over all of these.
The framework of this poetry is undoubtedly and unashamedly Christian, but like the Christians of old, the wisdom here is designed to cross the borders of language, culture, and religion. I sincerely believe my father does not aim to preach with this work, but he does aim to lay his own story bare—whether you believe his testimony or not is up to you. But one cannot help but be moved in uncovering his story one lyric at a time.
There’s one more thing I should say about this book: my mother did the artwork on the cover. She, too, has been a constant source of strength and inspiration in my life, and instilled in me a love of fantasy novels which has never died. So, here’s to my mother and father, and the wonderful things they do, and the beautiful thing they have made. May your ears too be opened by the Burning Word!
But wait, there’s more!
My mother, father, and I will actually be collaborating even more closely on an exhibition of art, poetry, and book-bindery. This is taking place at Upton Country House, in Poole, and runs from February 5th and 11th. There is a special event on February 7th (Saturday) from 2pm till 4pm, where there will be readings (I plan on reading from Ourobomundus), great conversation, food, drink, and general celebration. If you’re in the UK and you’re free, please do come down. It is going to be a very special event indeed.
What can I say? Bloody awesome review - thanks Joe!!! (aka my son!)