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The Leaf Catcher: The Traveling Box Trilogy
Virgil, Homer, Dante, these are some of the names that come to mind when asked who were the great writers of epic poetry of their time. Now America has an epic poet of their own, Dax Tucker, who has made available this classic form of literature in a way that both inspires and enriches us while speaking to us in the language of our time. The book begins with a Can you go just one day without thinking a negative thought? To aid you in meeting this challenge you are transported to a late 16th century European village where you will meet Corliss Leafcatcher, the humble village gardener, and his son, Maddox, who aspires to be more than just a gardener like his father. It isn’t until he watches his father endure the mayhem wreaked upon him by the insanely jealous Prince Gavin that he learns to treasure the wisdom his father earns with blood, sweat and tears. For though Corliss is but a commoner, he is also married to one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom, Claire, and Gavin devises every insidious means to try and break them apart. However, eventually Gavin’s desire for Claire is replaced by an even stronger desire to break this man who has attained something he never could—happiness in the face of all odds.
130 pages, Paperback
First published June 27, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 3, 2011
The opening setting of Dax Tucker's epic poem is the enchanted garden of a king of Renaissance times, where the hero, Corliss, plies his humble trade as "leaf catcher." There, the wise and love-able Corliss digs the fertile earth, planting seeds and tending them to create his paradise-on-earth.
"Every blade of grass an exquisite green,
the king would often stroll through its pathways
contemplating in its beauty serene.
In marble fountains bathed song birds and jays;
bees and hummingbirds floated through the air
milking the flowers with colors ablaze."
The garden sets the stage for a classic epic tale of universal import, whose focus and purpose is to highlight the importance of family and the crucial role of father. Corliss shares his simple-yet-idyllic life as gardener with his beautiful wife, Claire, and his two children: a youngster, Hope, and her older adolescent brother, Maddox, who is the main focus of the wisdom-lessons in the book.
"From prehistoric times on lands frozen,
teaching how to keep warm and hunt for food,
to biblical shepherd lands of Goshen,
showing how a lost lamb should be rescued,
unto the present time and that to come,
wisdom of fathers to sons is imbued...
...and now sit back and read at your leisure
of a father who'll take such a measure...."
But all is not well in this garden, and Corliss encounters his share of terror, torture, and tragedy, the miserable lot of all too many people on earth, in past times and present. And though the tale is written in the elevated form of epic poetry, it possesses a kind of fairy-tale quality, complete with unbreakable hero, wicked prince, fickle king, beautiful maidens, bumbling courtiers, and even a touch of magic.
This fairy-tale quality is, to me, the most appealing aspect of the book. It draws you in and awakens your sense of wonder, rousing childhood feelings of the infinite potential of the world and your own dormant possibilities of self-realization.
As for the end of the book, without giving anything away, I can tell you that the hero, Corliss, attains his ultimate purpose, that is, the passage of wisdom from father to son:
"Hearing these words Maddox relaxed his fists;
wisdom flowed like water over a cliff,
and he stood below awash in its mists."
Having read this book, I can attest that we, the reader, too can benefit from the waters of wisdom present in its verses. If only more of us, like Maddox, could replace the destructive hatred that at times courses through our veins with the cooling wisdom of acceptance.
As the quoted verses above attest, the author does an outstanding job of mixing the ancient medium of epic poetry with the modern living language of English. Use of this literary form adds to the power of the work by giving it a sense of timelessness, bringing with it a promise of revelation of ancient wisdom. One note on this topic: since epic poetry has a tradition of repetition in oral form, it might be very interesting to hear The Leaf Catcher recited aloud at some point in future.
I highly recommend this book as an engrossing read with a powerful and timeless message.
"Every blade of grass an exquisite green,
the king would often stroll through its pathways
contemplating in its beauty serene.
In marble fountains bathed song birds and jays;
bees and hummingbirds floated through the air
milking the flowers with colors ablaze."
The garden sets the stage for a classic epic tale of universal import, whose focus and purpose is to highlight the importance of family and the crucial role of father. Corliss shares his simple-yet-idyllic life as gardener with his beautiful wife, Claire, and his two children: a youngster, Hope, and her older adolescent brother, Maddox, who is the main focus of the wisdom-lessons in the book.
"From prehistoric times on lands frozen,
teaching how to keep warm and hunt for food,
to biblical shepherd lands of Goshen,
showing how a lost lamb should be rescued,
unto the present time and that to come,
wisdom of fathers to sons is imbued...
...and now sit back and read at your leisure
of a father who'll take such a measure...."
But all is not well in this garden, and Corliss encounters his share of terror, torture, and tragedy, the miserable lot of all too many people on earth, in past times and present. And though the tale is written in the elevated form of epic poetry, it possesses a kind of fairy-tale quality, complete with unbreakable hero, wicked prince, fickle king, beautiful maidens, bumbling courtiers, and even a touch of magic.
This fairy-tale quality is, to me, the most appealing aspect of the book. It draws you in and awakens your sense of wonder, rousing childhood feelings of the infinite potential of the world and your own dormant possibilities of self-realization.
As for the end of the book, without giving anything away, I can tell you that the hero, Corliss, attains his ultimate purpose, that is, the passage of wisdom from father to son:
"Hearing these words Maddox relaxed his fists;
wisdom flowed like water over a cliff,
and he stood below awash in its mists."
Having read this book, I can attest that we, the reader, too can benefit from the waters of wisdom present in its verses. If only more of us, like Maddox, could replace the destructive hatred that at times courses through our veins with the cooling wisdom of acceptance.
As the quoted verses above attest, the author does an outstanding job of mixing the ancient medium of epic poetry with the modern living language of English. Use of this literary form adds to the power of the work by giving it a sense of timelessness, bringing with it a promise of revelation of ancient wisdom. One note on this topic: since epic poetry has a tradition of repetition in oral form, it might be very interesting to hear The Leaf Catcher recited aloud at some point in future.
I highly recommend this book as an engrossing read with a powerful and timeless message.
December 4, 2024
A wonderfully poetic and entertaining story that is part Chaucer and part Biblical Job. The positive philosophy demonstrated through the trials of an un-justly persecuted family man resonate in the stanzas throughout this quick, but deep, read.
November 5, 2011
Book Title: The Leaf Catcher
Author: Dax M. Tucker
Publisher: Create Space
ISBN: 9781463561406
Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review
“One of the greatest lessons the fall of the leaf teaches is this: do your work well and then be ready to depart when God shall call.”
~Tryson Edwards
Corliss is not a money wealthy man but he is wealthy in wisdom. Although he labors tending the gardens of the King for meager wages, he never complains about the work he does. How can this be? His son Maddox asks this question often. Is this how his life will end up too? Maddox really hopes not. Sensing his son's disappointment, Corliss begins to show the beauty of a simple life. He speaks of his family which includes Claire his wife and his daughter Hope, and how much joy and contentment he has in just living. Unfortunately his wife is a beauty and has caught the eye of Gavin the Prince. He is consumed with desire to have Claire as his own. How for will he go to accomplish this? Is Corliss's family really as strong as he may think they are? Will his son eventually understand his teaches before it is too late?
Many may try to compare this author's poetic work with some of the greatest from the past, I have chose not to. I think this poet deserves to be recognized as a great on his own merit. I found this book to be a fairy tale for adults: good verses evil with a little magic mixed in. Written in a gentle tempo and tone, it felt like I had my own Zen master of words trying to bestow words of wisdom inside an enthralling story. It is truly a treasure chest with gems of life lessons to be discovers through out. One of which, is to have a mind enriched in wisdom than have a life enriched in material wealth. I would like to thank the author for the gift of himself that he has given to the world for, “the most precious gift that can be given is what we possess in the our own person.” I look forward to more gifts and treasures from this author, it will be worth the wait.
Author: Dax M. Tucker
Publisher: Create Space
ISBN: 9781463561406
Reviewed by Michele Tater for The Couch Tater Review
“One of the greatest lessons the fall of the leaf teaches is this: do your work well and then be ready to depart when God shall call.”
~Tryson Edwards
Corliss is not a money wealthy man but he is wealthy in wisdom. Although he labors tending the gardens of the King for meager wages, he never complains about the work he does. How can this be? His son Maddox asks this question often. Is this how his life will end up too? Maddox really hopes not. Sensing his son's disappointment, Corliss begins to show the beauty of a simple life. He speaks of his family which includes Claire his wife and his daughter Hope, and how much joy and contentment he has in just living. Unfortunately his wife is a beauty and has caught the eye of Gavin the Prince. He is consumed with desire to have Claire as his own. How for will he go to accomplish this? Is Corliss's family really as strong as he may think they are? Will his son eventually understand his teaches before it is too late?
Many may try to compare this author's poetic work with some of the greatest from the past, I have chose not to. I think this poet deserves to be recognized as a great on his own merit. I found this book to be a fairy tale for adults: good verses evil with a little magic mixed in. Written in a gentle tempo and tone, it felt like I had my own Zen master of words trying to bestow words of wisdom inside an enthralling story. It is truly a treasure chest with gems of life lessons to be discovers through out. One of which, is to have a mind enriched in wisdom than have a life enriched in material wealth. I would like to thank the author for the gift of himself that he has given to the world for, “the most precious gift that can be given is what we possess in the our own person.” I look forward to more gifts and treasures from this author, it will be worth the wait.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews