Water Lines: New and Selected Poems

by Luci Shaw

This beautiful gathering of contemporary lyric poems by best-selling author and poet Luci Shaw celebrates both the magnificence and the meaning of water in its myriad forms. "Water Lines" includes sixty-three new and selected poems by Shaw, all reflecting the evocative nature of water. The steady hush of falling rain, the white noise of a waterfall, the glittering sounds of a fountain, the washing of ripples against rocks in a clear northern lake, the surging of a mountain stream — Shaw shows how these watery wonders refresh the ear and eye and, further, penetrate the soul. As with all her poetry on creation, Shaw sees the invisible, thinks the universal, and finds in the natural world superb metaphors for human "I think it's the fluidity of water — the way it constantly renews itself — that reminds me of the possibility, and the need, for change and renewal." "Water Lines" vividly captures water's effects on our senses and invites us to explore this persistent reality, which "pools in the Creator's hand," Shaw says, "and falls, like blessing, on all our heads." Filled with luminous images and insights, "Water Lines" is a book to give, to receive, to savor.

Genres: Poetry

128 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2003

About the author

Luci Shaw is a Christian writer of poetry and essays.

Reviews

[Gala · Rating 3 out of 5]

half of these poems are fantastic. the other half range from passable to a little cringe-inducing. i think it's what happens when someone is open to the scandal of being enraptured. sometimes it's contagious and other times it's embarrassing.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful descriptions of the natural world. Generally not my favorite kind of poetry though.

Sealey Challenge 13/31

[Kirstian L · Rating 3 out of 5]

Appreciated the concept and some of the attempts at forms, but wish it had gone a bit harder with more depth (pun unintended…)

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a re-read for me. But, I enjoyed it again! I love how water flows through each of these poems.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it is just my mood but this didn't strike me nearly as well as "Listen to the Green" - perhaps if I reread both books side-by-side at a later date, my opinion would be different.