A Potpourri of Verse: Poems for a Variety of Occasions

In "A Potpourri of Verse," fictional author and historian Leif E. Trondsen offers up his first collection of poetry. The latter covers a wide variety of genres: religious, political, romantic, and children's verse. Nevertheless, devotional themes remain a constant thread throughout all these poems. It is not the author's intention, however, to present his religious views in "an overt or didactic manner." Rather, he hopes "to inspire, comfort, or even nudge his readers in their own religious beliefs."

Trondsen's verse reflects the influence of his favorite poets of past centuries, such as John Donne (1572-1631), George Herbert (1593-1633), and Christina Rossetti (1830-1894). All three were English by birth and temperament as well as Anglican in their religious persuasion. Religion thus permeates their poetry: it informs their vocabulary, shapes their literary illusions, and drives their fervor. However, it is the influence of Christina Rossetti, the great Victorian poet, whose influence is most readily apparent in Trondsen's verse. He too attempts to mirror the style, content, metrics, and vocabulary of a far more elegant and learned age than our own.

Lastly, much of Trondsen's religious and children's poetry is written in the style of a Zen Buddhist koan. The latter is "a succinct paradoxical statement or question used as a meditation discipline for novices." Therefore, each of these is built around one line or religious notion contained within a specific Psalm or Gospel passage. In four lines alone, the author amplifies these, stripping away all unrelated devotional wording or notions contained within the greater Biblical text. The reader is thus left with a core idea or concept to mull over in his or her thoughts." As Trondsen writes: "If one's religion, regardless of creed or denomination, is not founded on some semblance of 'faith, hope, and love' (1 Cor. 13:13), then it has little to offer humanity, especially in these dark and troubling times."

Beautifully set in Perpetua type and illustrated in color by the artwork of the noted Canadian painter Cindy Shafer, "A Potpourri of Verse" is a welcome departure from the more common free verse poetry of contemporary poetic circles.