One of the chief functions of poetry in Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was to praise gods, people and things. Heroes and kings were glorified in many varieties of praise, and the arts of encomium and panegyric were codified by classical rhetoricians and later by writers on poetry. J. A. Burrow's study spans over two thousand years, from Pindar to Christopher Logue, but its main concern is with the English poetry of the Middle Ages, a period when praise poetry flourished. He argues that the 'decline of praise' in English literature since the seventeenth century, which has meant that modern readers and critics find it hard to appreciate this kind of poetry. This erudite but accessible account by a leading scholar of medieval literature shows why the poetry of praise was once so popular, and why it is still worth reading today.

At an early age, Olga Sedakova began writing poetry and, by the 1970s, had joined up with other members of Russia's underground second culture' to create a vibrant literary movement - one that was at odds with the political powers that be. This conflict prevented Sedakova's books from being published in the U.S.S.R., they were only available as hand written books. But now Sedakova has published 27 volumes of verse and prose. This is a unique introduction to her work, bringing together a memoir-essay and two poetic works.'

The poems are a grand mix of serious and crazy—each with genuine praise-for-God intent. They cover quite a range of themes. Nature, science, psychology, and even politics are scrutinized. Keep your vocabulary sharp and your imagination intact. I intended this work to boost your faith and increase your love of God. I believe God has a marvelous sense of humor; hopefully yours will be activated as you partake of these cheerful expressions of appreciation for Jesus. The pictures are from original watercolor paintings I have done, each extols the natural handiwork of God!

This is Clara Burghelea's second full collection of poetry. Clare is a Romanian-born poet with an MFA in Poetry from Adelphi University. Recipient of the Robert Muroff Poetry Award, her poems and translations appeared in Ambit, Waxwing, The Cortland Review and elsewhere. Her collection The Flavor of The Other was published in 2020 with Dos Madres Press. She is the Translation/International Poetry Editor of The Blue Nib Literary Magazine.

English speakers have 12 centuries of Christian poetry to draw upon. The examples in this anthology come from all Christian sources including Anglican, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and modern evangelical and reform traditions.

My poetry covers a wide variety of topics, with the main one being scriptural instruction and wisdom. I also write about life, mysteriousness, hard times and testing, adventurous hiking, other people, intellectual and philosophical introspection, comfort, and hope for the future. I will challenge you to seek God and discover his plan for you.

For much of Christian history, pastors not only served as theologians and preachers, but also as poets and hymn writers. They ministered through their preaching and their poetry, their sermons and their songs—laboring to see God’s truth planted not only in people’s minds, but helping it find its way into their hearts and even onto their lips. They viewed such labors as an artistic and devotional tool of catechesis, one that has largely gone missing over the last few generations. But in this new collection of hymns and poems, Justin Wainscott recaptures that rich legacy of pastor-poets, providing God’s people with theology that stirs and sings. Whether his poetry pertains to matters of common grace or saving grace, the mundane or the majestic, he gives readers an opportunity to lose themselves in wonder, love, and praise. And a book like this one couldn’t come at a better time. In this age of distracted reading marked mainly by skimming and scanning, our souls need the kind of slow, deep reading that poetry rewards.