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For the sense of peace and tranquility
That I have felt down through the years"
A collection of poetry that revolves around faith, Wheat’s work depicts evergreen and instantly relatable experiences of the everyman. At times, readers will experience verses of joy. In other moments, they will encounter sorrow and everything in between. Yet, through it all, the poems are almost always imbued in faith, hope, prayer, and Christ. As a former Vietnam veteran, Wheat has seen the darkest of darknesses, and as such, it is incredibly encouraging for audiences to see how such a man can reprogram the prism of his life to faith, humanity, and the Lord.
From the start, the poems exhibit a strong command of poetic language, whether that is through the use of repetition of "I" and "His" in “What do you Prefer” to demonstrate the steady hand of God that graces the life of his believers or the varying rhyme schemes like AABB and ABCB that are implemented to send simple, yet poignant messages such as living simply and treating each day like a trial. For example, if the day goes well, it is a blessing; and if it is rife with challenges, then at least it has instilled in you the strength to overcome, which, in its own right, is also a blessing.
Each poem is ingrained with its own identity. In pieces like “I Know What You’re Saying,” the speaker is gently tackling the nonbeliever, simply providing him with a thought-provoking proposition: look at the majesty of nature, species both big and small, from the flowers and bees to the gigantic trees and ask yourself how anyone other than the Lord could be responsible for the magnificence of creation. At the same time, “Where Do the Bad People Go” hints at the intensity of Hell that awaits those that live their life imbued in sin. In all of the poems, the lyrical nature of the prose gives the feeling of the speaker conversing directly with the reader, his target audience.
Beyond the directly faith-based entries, many selections explore the frailties of being human, such as the excruciating nature of getting old and coming to terms with physical and mental limitations like memory loss. These are highlighted with scintillating energy. An excerpt from one poem does a commendable job of portraying the anguish of old age: “Today, I counted forty pills / For all of my aches and pains.” Juxtaposing the invincibility of youth with the often feeble and helpless nature of having to take every medication under the sun to function as one climbs the age ladder is not just heartbreaking but a constant reminder that the individual is no longer in control of their own body.
Interestingly, poems like “A Card or What?” reinvigorate the reader with the purity of true love. While they are often tucked in between pieces that speak of heartache and loss, falling from grace, or vultures from humanity, these romantic poems are undoubtedly uplifting for the spirit. Moreover, the work is so fluid that the verses roll off the tongue—a delight to all aficionados of figurative language and overall poetic technique. All in all, Wheat’s poetry is raw and genuine, an outpouring of the unfiltered and pure soul that will make readers pause and think about their own life experiences and their relationship with their Savior.