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in the midst of a forest glen.
Standing there with no one to care
that its plight is ghastly."
Barkley’s compilation is an unveiling of a life's journey through the lens of faith and the power that faith holds in reshaping perspective, even in the darkest of times. Despite facing challenges and adversity like her brother getting cancer, Barkley is adamant that it is not the fault of God, and to hold Him culpable would be a shame. Ultimately, through a strong command of poetic devices such as similes, metaphors, and alliteration—though not always exhibiting a consistent rhyme scheme—Barkley’s compilation evokes a trust that Jehovah’s Kingdom can be earned through a discovery of truth and unquestioning surrender to Jehovah in the material life.
Barkley embeds her personal life within the poetry, allowing for her voice and emotions to result in an honest yet extremely vulnerable piece. Poems like “My Brother,” and “Waiting” demonstrate how a painful and emotionally gut-wrenching period can be overcome through faith. At the same time, there are poems like “Welcome,” which loosely employ an AABB rhyme scheme to commemorate an individual’s entrance into belief and commitment to walk in Jehovah’s light.
While faith in Jehovah is central to this compilation, there are elements of faith in love and friendship that are especially evident in “Memories, Good and Bad,” and “Faithful Friend.” Poems like these show a different side of the speaker and a solemn reminiscing of bygone times. Overall, the poetry is authentic, demonstrating that as long as one commits to every action with a commitment in Jehovah, every act, whether it is work, grief, celebration, etc. will feel fulfilling.