By Hand Unseen
A Poet's Words for a Reader's Pen
by
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We posture on tiptoe with expectation that somewhere around the bend, as surely as in the "holy now", there is more than meets the eye of our current salutation. This book begins with a painting called LIFE, and moves into a collection of a poet's words, a few wide margins and waiting pages scattered throughout. This is intended to become a journal for explorers - their discovery and response. The invitation is to ponder, play, perhaps to pray - beginning first of all with The Most Important and Beautiful Poem. For each of us, it is our own. The Most Important and Beautiful Poem you ever read will be your own. Others’ words you’ve seen or heard Perhaps, they have fallen into you, set up housekeeping, guests invited or no ~ one or two? But there is an ocean well below the jingle, rhyme or reason. There is a wellspring bubbling, urgent to surface ~any season of your skin ~ your mind ~your limb. by way of heart, be it pulsing steady scarred or scared lacking courage~weeping. There is a wellspring bubbling, urgent to surface ~any season. The most beautiful poem is You ~being uttered as a partial thought of God ~ You – Logos in the making ~ Love enfleshing. Make Love with words or no…… in silence be……wait! Not all poetry is spelled, But poetry in you is “spelling” - Enchantment ~ casting into hands open to receive. Together, we let down our nets on the other side of where we thought we ought as we begin to trust the invitation and haul ashore abundance Or will we wait, beached, at tide pools, for whatever is delivered on the Wave of Inspiration?
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About the Book
We become the artists we are intended to be whenever we accept the invitation to enter deeply into life through creation, whether by writing, painting, dancing, weaving, throwing clay, composing music—any medium of life observed and lived in relationship. Our expressions are the fossils of our inner experiences. By Hand Unseen is Martha Bartholomew’s fourth collection of poetry and her second collection to be subtitled A Poet's Words for a Reader's Pen. Her previous book, Turned Corners and Juniper Berries, allowed ample space for readers to record their own journal responses to her poetry. Once again, she welcomes readers to interact with and respond personally to her poetry by creating their own journal entries in the book.
About the Author
Martha Bartholomew is an award-winning poet, writer, and storyteller. She holds graduate degrees from Loyola University, the University of Chicago, and the Graduate Theological Foundation. She is the director of Siloam Retreat House of Prayer in Dundee Illinois. Martha is married, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother of one.