Playing with Fire

These lively reflections on how faith and poetry intersect cover a surprising range. The writers’ deep appreciation of poets who preceded them infuses their essays with edifying gratitude. Poems, personal stories, and threads of theory offer readers rich food for thought, incentives to return to beloved poets, introductions to new ones, and ample reason to rejoice. 

~Marilyn McEntyre, PhD, Author of Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies (marilynmcentyre.com)

This book is a symphony of words and a chorus of voices from which emerges a song about poetry. Hearing the singular Word echoing in the song of the Muses, these poets reflect on what it means to faithfully answer the call to create. Wonderfully oblique, bringing their poetic verve to prose, these essays are moving testimonies (the first paragraph of George David Clark's contribution made me weep). Wander in their words and rekindle–or find–a devotion to poetry.

~James K.A. Smith, Professor of Philosophy, Calvin University

Given the prismatic way writers will inhabit writing and faith practices, it’s no surprise that reading these essays feels like entering a room of writers in conversation, each offering a perspective on the influence of Christian faith on poetic practice as others listen, leaning in. The after-air is redolent with expectation for what they—and you, reader—will say. Amid stories, confessions, challenges, close readings of poems, and efforts to articulate nuances of faith manifested in the writing process—such as mystery, revelation, participation, and play—readers will find themselves companioned and charged by these writers and their multiplicity of insights.

~Joy Moore, Assistant Director for the Honors Community, Union University