Splendour
by Rooms, A.H
Trafford Publishing

book review by Mihir Shah

A.H. Rooms' collection of forty four devotional poems dedicated to the love of Jesus Christ not only enhances one's spiritual appreciation, but also motivates the reader to do his absolute best. Rooms says, "I cannot do better having done my best." The narrative does an exceptional job of capturing the traditional Christian literature and poetic themes of God's love, walking in the light, and finding one's self after completely surrendering to Him.

While themes run concurrently throughout the poems, Rooms displays a remarkable ability to be concise and convey a powerful message. Interestingly, the majority of her stanzas are short, crisp, and filled with visually stunning metaphors. For instance, a stanza in the compilation describes the speaker's reaction to hearing God's Word: "Your Word of life spoken to me, cast away the death which looked, disguised."

The author's calling card is her simplicity, making Splendour an ideal read for audiences of all ages. She places a heavy emphasis on the power of God's love translating into a holistic transformation for mankind and a tremendous source for holding one's spirits together in the toughest of times. Perhaps the most intriguing and revealing moment in Rooms' poetry is her wake-up call to humanity: "It’s not of worth which hasn't cost, of its own self."

In other words, God's love is simply not handed down, but earned through sacrifice and trust. In the anthology, the author depicts her own experiences in poems such as "I Looked," and entreats readers to become a true worshipper rather than a spectator on the sidelines. Albeit simple, each poem is profound and thought provoking, particularly "May be tomorrow" which is arguably Rooms' eye-opening poem that portrays man's reliance on tomorrow. Two words sum up the consequences of this disastrous reliance: “too late."

Overall, Rooms' poetry is well written with appealing imagery and a strong purpose.

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