Divine Inspiration: The Life of Jesus in World Poetry. - book reviews

Cross Currents, Fall, 1998 by Suzanne Keen

The practical uses of this anthology will surely occur to creative homilists, to adventuresome directors of religious education for young people, and to couples planning wedding ceremonies. It would certainly make a refreshing change at one of this summer's weddings to hear Rainer Maria Rilke's "On the Marriage at Cana," Carlos Pellicer's "Sunday," Richard Wilbur's "A Wedding Toast," or the gorgeous "Hymn of Faith: The Wedding Feast" by the fourth century Syriac poet Ephrem. Ephrem's poems became part of the liturgy of the Syrian Christian Church, but I would have never known them were it not for their inclusion, in lovely translations, in Divine Inspiration. The discovery of poets such as Ephrem, as well as the recognition of old favorites (George Herbert, Denise Levertov, Gwendolyn Brooks) makes dipping into this volume especially rewarding. My only regret: the old chestnut on the parable of the talents, Milton's sonnet "On his Blindness," didn't make the cut.

SUZANNE KEEN