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No rest or quiet within
When trouble blows into your life
That leads you into sin.""
In the spirit of Webb's previous compilations, Volume 4 is downright riveting, delivered by a man who not only possesses an uncanny mastery with words, but also has experiences with darkness to give credence to his poetry. The poems within are written while Webb, now an ordained minister, was in prison. Although redemption is a key component, the poetry is focused on spirituality, and how that spirituality can inspire the individual to form a relationship with the Lord and become the best person that one can be.
The themes cover an array of universal life experiences; however, the most intriguing poems, arguably, are those that give direct insight into the solitude of prison. In "No Man’s Land," Webb describes the hopelessness behind the walls, and in "Free Inside," he shows how, despite being trapped, one can be free in heart and soul. "Another Day, Another Night," directly touches on an inmates despair as he helplessly watches the days turn into months and the months turn into years.
Love, Loneliness, silence, and loss of identity are all discussed within Webb's poetry. Moreover, he is forthright, particularly in "Mirror of My Life," "Married to Cocaine," and "Good-Bye Cocaine," in explaining his relationship with drugs and money. In Webb's case, acceptance of wrongdoing is the first step back onto the path of righteousness.
In "Life Goes On," Webb depicts being locked away as a nightmare where time is frozen and all that shifts are thoughts. In much of Webb's poetry, throughout all the volumes, there is an old man and new man phenomena. Many of the poems either show the suffering of man before he has surrendered to the love of God, or the reinvigorated spirit apparent in "Free," "God is Always There," and many others.
Overall, Webb uses strong metaphors and fluid sentence structure to deliver his message crisply to readers. In many ways, this compilation applies not just to prisoners, but to life in general. Prisoners are confined into a smaller cell, while members of society are confined to a larger one. In either case, a life without God, Webb points out, is nothing more than a prison sentence. Poetry to God: Volume 4 is undoubtedly an inspiring read for all.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review