Book Reviews

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To Know Him
Felix Alexander
American Literary Press, Inc. 2004
ISBN: 1-56167-828-7
$9.95 Paperback

Mother, daughter, sister . . . Father, son, brother . . . Friend, colleague, acquaintance . . . it doesn’t matter who, this book will provide that poetic touch in one way or another.

For as long as I can remember, poetry has been an integral part of my life. Be it in the form of admiration or writing my own, it’s found itself intertwined in just about everything I touch. I’ve often found myself using “poemwriter” as it is or with numerals at the end for various usernames on accounts, despite not having penned a work in almost a year.

With that said, I’ve become inspired by a new poetic genius*. I say “genius” because; in all my years of writing and admiring, rarely did I find or write poetry using Biblical scriptures as the inspiration or creative expression. (I don’t know if it was because it wasn’t crossing my path or because I wasn’t looking hard enough.) And, even more rarely did I find those scriptures cited at the end of each piece. This was particularly impressive . . .

Why?

I’ll explain. We all need education on a daily basis (let’s face it, learning continues with every step and breath we take). With poetry like this, not only are we being inspired, but we’re also being led to the Bible for self study. I read my Bible, but it’s never been on an “artistic” level. In the past, it’s been to find answers or to seek council. When I read Alexander’s, To Know Him, I found myself explore Biblical passages with a new vision . . . a renewed inspiration . . . seemingly a new set of eyes.

As Christians, we all know for a fact that “awakenings” need to happen from time to time. Even though we attend church every week, do our Bible studies, witness regularly and live by faith and works . . . sometimes that “passion” gets lost in all the “activities.” Reading a book like this will not only awake that “sleeping” part of you, it’ll rejuvenate and replenish. That said, it’ll also inspire those who are still learning the walk and looking to feed that new hunger. I remember when I first came to the Lord fifteen years ago . . . I was hungry for every piece of literature I could get my hands on in an effort to keep those fires of excitement burning. This book would’ve been perfect in that pursuit.

* gen•ius P Pronunciation Key (j n y s)
n. pl. gen•ius•es
1.
a. Extraordinary intellectual and creative power.
b. A person of extraordinary intellect and talent: “One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius” (Simone de Beauvoir).
c. A person who has an exceptionally high intelligence quotient, typically above 140.
2.
a. A strong natural talent, aptitude, or inclination: has a genius for choosing the right words.
b. One who has such a talent or inclination: a genius at diplomacy.
3. The prevailing spirit or distinctive character, as of a place, a person, or an era: the genius of Elizabethan England.
4. pl. ge•ni•i (j n - ) Roman Mythology. A tutelary deity or guardian spirit of a person or place.
5. A person who has great influence over another.
6. A jinni in Muslim mythology.


[Middle English, guardian spirit, from Latin. See gen - in Indo-European Roots.]


Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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