Overview

A compelling, imagined dialogue with some of the most beloved Christian poets Step into a captivating poetic conversation that spans centuries. The Role of the Moon explores the timeless themes of faith, loss, transcendence, human struggle, and renewal, echoing John Donne, George Herbert, and other 17th-century metaphysical poets. In vivid dialogue with John Milton, William Shakespeare, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Emily Dickinson, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and many others, D.S. Martin engages them in our modern world. A ""new metaphysical"" voice emerges, connecting the past to the present with wit, poignancy, and striking originality. Perfect for readers who enjoy poetry and literature as a spiritual pursuit, this collection invites you to explore the beauty and power of classic Christian poetry in a fresh and modern way.

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Reviews

""The Role of the Moon comprises D.S. Martin's moving homage to the Metaphysicals, using metaphor as they did to grapple with supernal truths. Almost arbitrarily, I'd call especial attention to ""Prayer,"" the uncanny opening poem of its fourth section, because the sequence synopsizes so much of what this luminous collection offers: it is at once humble and ambitious, vernacular and high-rhetorical. Most importantly, like the book at large, it epitomizes the example the poet means to follow. In a headnote he writes of the Metaphysicals that, because they ""were deeply dedicated to their Christian faith ... much of their poetry expresses their wrestlings with God, and with their own weaknesses."" Few beside Martin himself could, without the least pretension, undertake to emulate such grand predecessors. We readers are blessed that Martin did."" Sydney Lea, Vermont Poet Laureate (2011--2015) ""Don Martin writes as always with an impressive blend of unobtrusive technical skill and a wonderfully innovative imagination. But the most distinctive gift of this collection is the sustained conversation with John Donne and the tradition he represents, producing a series of witty, poignant, searching interactions that bear many re-readings. A formidable achievement."" Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (2002--2012) ""D. S. Martin's The Role of the Moon is a conversation with the tradition of English-language Christian poetry--a strikingly creative one, because many are the books that play off of earlier poets, but few are those that, as here, achieve real originality and relevance. In vivid dialogue with Thomas Traherne, Gerard Hopkins, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, and many others, above all John Donne, Martin engages them in our world. Notable for agilely shifting tones, phrase-making ability, and an inventive combination of freedom and formality, these are alert and profound, memorable, often quotable poems. For instance, ""New Life"" is spurred by ""The Windhover"" (and also ""God's Grandeur"" and ""Spring"" and even ""No worst, there is none"") to say this: ""Try your best to imagine the worst.../...the doom & dust passes, the fireweed / blueberries & grasses thrive the hopeless vacuum fills / with new desire..."" And so for Martin, along with Hopkins, ""there lives the dearest freshness deep down things"". A. F. Moritz, Griffin Poetry Prize Winner

""The Role of the Moon comprises D.S. Martin's moving homage to the Metaphysicals, using metaphor as they did to grapple with supernal truths. Almost arbitrarily, I'd call especial attention to ""Prayer,"" the uncanny opening poem of its fourth section, because the sequence synopsizes so much of what this luminous collection offers: it is at once humble and ambitious, vernacular and high-rhetorical. Most importantly, like the book at large, it epitomizes the example the poet means to follow. In a headnote he writes of the Metaphysicals that, because they ""were deeply dedicated to their Christian faith ... much of their poetry expresses their wrestlings with God, and with their own weaknesses."" Few beside Martin himself could, without the least pretension, undertake to emulate such grand predecessors. We readers are blessed that Martin did."" Sydney Lea, Vermont Poet Laureate (2011--2015) ""Don Martin writes as always with an impressive blend of unobtrusive technical skill and a wonderfully innovative imagination. But the most distinctive gift of this collection is the sustained conversation with John Donne and the tradition he represents, producing a series of witty, poignant, searching interactions that bear many re-readings. A formidable achievement."" Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury (2002--2012) ""D. S. Martin's The Role of the Moon is a conversation with the tradition of English-language Christian poetry--a strikingly creative one, because many are the books that play off of earlier poets, but few are those that, as here, achieve real originality and relevance. In vivid dialogue with Thomas Traherne, Gerard Hopkins, Christina Rossetti, Emily Dickinson, and many others, above all John Donne, Martin engages them in our world. Notable for agilely shifting tones, phrase-making ability, and an inventive combination of freedom and formality, these are alert and profound, memorable, often quotable poems. For instance, ""New Life"" is spurred by ""The Windhover"" (and also ""God's Grandeur"" and ""Spring"" and even ""No worst, there is none"") to say this: ""Try your best to imagine the worst.../...the doom & dust passes, the fireweed / blueberries & grasses thrive the hopeless vacuum fills / with new desire..."" And so for Martin, along with Hopkins, ""there lives the dearest freshness deep down things"". A. F. Moritz, Griffin Poetry Prize Winner

Author Information

D.S. Martin is a Canadian poet, Series Editor for the Poiema Poetry Series, and Poet-in-Residence at McMaster Divinity College in Hamilton, Ontario. His previous books of poetry include: Angelicus (2021), Ampersand (2018), Conspiracy of Light: Poems Inspired by the Legacy of C.S. Lewis (2013), Poiema (2008), and the chapbook So The Moon Would Not Be Swallowed (2007, Rubicon Press). His poetry has appeared in many publications around the world, such as Canadian Literature, Christian Century, Dalhousie Review, Event, Irish Times, Practical Theology and Queen's Quarterly. He and his wife, Gloria, live in Brampton, Ontario. They have two adult sons

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