Parable and Paradox

The centerpiece of this volume is a sequence of fifty sonnets that reflect on the saying of Jesus in the Gospels, both those that kindle our hearts immediately and those ‘hard sayings’ that stop us in our tracks or dare us to see the world differently.

Within this longer collection are smaller sequences on the Lord’s Prayer, the great ‘I AM’ sayings in the Gospel of John and the two greatest commandments. Other poems are inspired by the beatitudes, the parables, the miracles and stories that are so familiar to us that they sometimes lose their power. Through his poetic explorations of these texts, Guite allows us to encounter them anew and experience their power to surprise and shape us. In addition, there are poems on love and friendship, beginnings and endings, the natural world and the ordinary beauty that surrounds us.

Guite’s poetry is accessible for the newcomer and delightful for the seasoned connoisseur of literature. His poetry collections are equally at home on the devotional shelf or the literature shelf. For those who love poetry this is essential reading. For those who think poetry is inaccessible, this may change your mind.