Bible Stories and Contemporary Times in Poetic Lines
by Augustine Joseph
Trafford Publishing

book review by John E. Roper

Stories from the Bible have been retold in a variety of ways. Hollywood produces blockbusters on the lives of Jesus and Moses along with animated cartoons that focus on the more famous events from scripture. Christian publishers have printed countless novelizations of the lives of the Apostles along with key women from the Old Testament like Ruth, Rahab, and Esther. The author takes a different path than most, however, in his decision to offer adult readers stories from the Bible chronicled in poetic form, an approach normally only used in children's literature. The result is a fresh and unique look at some familiar passages.

Joseph, an Episcopal priest originally from the West Indies, sticks primarily to conventional rhyme schemes and stanza structures in his poetry, penning the bulk of his verse in standard quatrains of rhyming couplets. This style fits well with what appears to be his overall purpose: to communicate in a clear, straightforward, and easily understandable manner while avoiding the confusing imagery and obscure references that some poets seem to thrive on. In the latter half of the book, he branches out from biblical themes to more contemporary topics such as the power of the news media, the terrorist attacks of 9/11, bullying, etc. Although a few of the poems are tributes to those he admires or loves, many of the ones on modern topics are impassioned calls for individual or societal change. Regardless of subject matter, what strikes the reader most in this collection is the poet's desire to educate his audience and instill in them the same strong feelings he has for his topics. Simple in form yet brimming with heart, Joseph's poetry is a welcome addition to the world's poetic canon.

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