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Tenderness, vulnerability, and
strength intertwine in McKinney’s collection of poems as he explores
the timeless topics of discovering one's true self and how to find and
sustain a lasting love. Exquisitely rendered, these classic themes are
made fresh through McKinney’s eyes.
Poems such as “Me”, “God’s Director”, and “Wonders of Life” show the
eternal search not only for meaning in one’s life, but for a sense of
self; that is, to know who one is and then to embrace it. The kind of
self-knowledge displayed in these poems comes from the wisdom of life’s
experiences. The good experiences and the bad mix inside McKinney’s
writing adding depth as well as a light touch to his poetry. They
illustrate the importance and the solace that come after learning to
live your life on your own terms.
In addition to the individual’s odyssey, McKinney’s poems look at the
fragility of love, but also the unbreakable bonds that can form between
two people willing to work together. It will take effort and time to
build these bonds but the results prove that love is worth any
sacrifice to get there. While there can be heartbreak and loss along
the way, one must retain hope and remember to, “Keep our hearts in
trust, for someone / New to come to us!”
Written with soft and gentle language, these poems seem to lead the
reader by the hand as though an effortless guide to the inevitable
truth of life. Deceptively simple at times, the poems plunge ahead into
the big questions. Without self-actualization, and without love, where
would any of us be?.