Poetry Commentary

Christian Wiman explores the relationships between art and faith, death and fame, heaven and oblivion. Above all, He Held Radical Light is a love letter to poetry, filled with moving, surprising, and sometimes funny encounters with the poets Wiman has known.

Du Fu (712-70) is one of China’s greatest poets. His career coincided with periods of famine, war and huge upheaval, yet his secular philosophical vision, combined with his empathy for the common folk of his nation, ensured that he soon became revered. Like Shakespeare or Dante, his poetry resonates in a timeless manner that ensures it is always relevant and offers something new to the modern generation. Broadcaster and historian Michael Wood follows in his footsteps to try to understand the places that inspired Du Fu to write some of the most famous and best-loved poetry the world has known.

Before he became an award-winning writer and poet, Brian Sonia-Wallace set up a typewriter on the street with a sign that said “Poetry Store” and discovered something surprising: All over America, people want poems. An amateur busker at first, Brian asked countless strangers, “What do you need a poem about?” To his surprise, passersby opened up to share their deepest yearnings, loves, and heartbreaks. Hundreds of them. Then thousands. Around the nation, Brian’s poetry crusade drew countless converts from all walks of life.

Rain in the Mountains brings together some of Ruskin Bond’s most beautiful works from his years spent in the foothills of the Himalayas in the town of Mussoorie. Through vivid images and lucid writing, Bond evokes the everyday sights and sounds, and captures the essence of mountain life. The musings on his natural habitat, in both prose and poetry, offer a view of that simple and affable world. Some of his writings featured in the book include: "Once Upon a Mountain Time", "Sounds I Like to Hear", "How Far Is the River" and "After the Monsoon".

As you start your journey through the Bible, keep in mind that the great God who called Moses and the nation of Israel also wants to lead you. The same God who spoke to Moses speaks to you today. His message, alive and vibrant, is one told through the lives of men and women like Moses, Joshua and Miriam. The apostle Paul acknowledged this when he wrote to the church at Corinth: “Our forefathers were all under the cloud and…they all passed through the sea…. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come...

This chilling tale of a gruesome monster unleashed into the world by an unthinking scientist was first conceived by 19-year-old Mary Shelley on a dark, rainy night on Lake Geneva. Lord Byron and Percy Shelley challenged their friends to see who could come up with the most horrifying story imaginable. Mary Shelley did, terrifying them all with her nightmare-inspired tale. It is followed by "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Coleridge which was an early haunting influence on the young Mary Shelley.

"Heard Mentality" delves into the profound consequences of hearsay and social shaming in contemporary society. Through a unique fusion of poetic storytelling, the narrative uncovers the deceptive nature of rumors and reveals the damaging effects of herd mentality on truth-seeking and justice. Drawing inspiration from world-renowned writers and contemporary rap, "Heard Mentality" combines artistry with intellectual inquiry, making it an engaging read for those interested in poetry, philosophy, ethics, and modern social issues. The story is set in a society of animals, crafting a vivid and ...

Kimberly Beyer-Nelson, who holds a master's degree in comparative religion, is a nationally published poet and author. She takes the listener on a very different kind of Biblical journey, one based in the language of poetry, intuition, and unity. Pulling from Sufi, Sikh, Buddhist, and Vedantic philosophy, her poetry illuminates the universal and human elements that makes all great scripture timeless.