"Today I kiss the walls of the great labyrinth
I hear echoes of immemorial beauty"
The Cross and the Crown by F.T. Vinokuroff Lulu
book review by Michael Radon
Filled to the brim with evocative imagery and twists of wordplay, this collection of poetry tackles spirituality and the eternal struggle in a way that is fascinating and engaging. A strong emphasis is present on the search for answers and wholeness ("I chased just about everything & nothing in particular") using a mixture of both Western and Eastern spirituality. There are sections and a general development to the collection, but the author gives express permission to read in a non-linear fashion, which can in its own way alter the message and interpretation. This openness also carries into the poems themselves, whose meanings can be influenced by the reader's own outlook on matters of faith and what questions that they are most eager to answer.
Serving as an anthology of work written by the poet across thirteen years, the development of the author over time is apparent on the page through the poems themselves. A great deal of symbolism is employed to try and explain and describe the most inexplicable facets of the human mind, lending a philosophical beatnik vibe to the work at large. Readers will enjoy the challenge of interpreting the meaning of each stanza, often looking inward to their own perspective for answers. Despite the generally spiritual overtones, the poetry is not exclusive to any system of beliefs and can be appreciated by any reader. To get the most of this title, the audience should bring introspection and an open mind, but fans of literary flourish will delight in the carefully crafted design of each and every phrase.