THE BLURB
God, Seed is a book of environmental poetry with art by local artist Lorna Stevens. Susan Terris writes, “God, Seed is lyrical, intense, and concerned with issues of our planet’s survival. Foust has a fierce yet loving attitude towards nature and human nature. Many of Foust’s luminous, insightful poems are paired with paintings by gifted artist Lorna Stevens. This is a book to read and treasure.”
Artist William Wiley writes, “God, Seed, a beautiful mix of words and images…light and deep. Good for the eye, mind and heart.”
“Spring is springing as I experience what the author and artist have given me and I am moved to recollect, in tranquility, as the poet said, all the infinite gifts I’ve received and might yet find in the glorious world, both human and otherwise. Rebecca Foust and Lorna Stevens are to be congratulated and profoundly thanked. Made my day. So, thanks, and more thanks.”
William Kittredge, author of Hole in the Sky, The Willow Field, and Owning It All and producer of A River Runs Through It.
WHAT I THOUGHT
I haven’t read much poetry (shame on me!) and I thank Rebecca Foust for inviting me into her world. I do find poetry quite personal and believe this shows through in Rebecca’s work. I liked some, thought some were just okay and then found some special favourites. I particularly liked ‘Bee Fugue’ where Rebecca describes perfectly the damage illness, via pesticide, parasite or virus, can affect a community and cause possible extinction. Mother Nature at her worst? Human nature at its worst? Either way it shows some things are out of our control, or the control of the bees, and the story will play out until perhaps the bitter end.
There is a deepness to this book of poetry and it evokes sadness, understanding and at times happiness. Emotions change from poem to poem and it makes one think about things which might not usually cross their mind. Good things can still come out of bad situations. The world does keep on spinning.
In this book of poetry there are many pictures which Lorna Stevens created. I loved them all in their own way. Some are quirky, some colourful and some black and white. One of my favourites goes with the poem ‘Last Bison Gone’. I can’t put my finger on why I like it so much, I just do, it appeals to me. There is a description of each of the pictures at the back of the book and some also describe how Lorna created them. I found this very interesting and it added an extra appreciation for me. I think it is a wonderful touch to have these descriptions included.
A good collection of poems with fitting companions in the form of pictures, a great relationship between words and art, both producing emotions by themselves and when viewed as a whole.
Many thanks to Rebecca Foust for providing me with a copy of God, Seed: Poetry & Art About the Natural World – thanks, Rebecca!
