The Selected Poetry of Jessica Powers

by Jessica Powers, Regina Siegfried (Editor), Robert Morneau (Editor)

Jessica Powers (1905-1988), a Discalced Carmelite nun and member of the Carmel of the Mother of God, Pewaukee, Wisconsin, has been hailed as one of America's greatest religious poets. She approved this anthology, the most extensive collection of her poems, only five weeks before her death. This book includes an introduction by Bishop Robert Morneau, over 180 poems, a chronology, and a bibliography.

Genres: Poetry, Christian

231 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2015

Reviews

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

My mother-in-law gave me this collection years ago when I was trying to be Catholic (Reader, it did not stick), and I am just now getting around to reading it.

All the poems are rhyming which gets tedious for me. I like some of the imagery; there's a poem near the end that compares an elusive idea for a poem to a startled bird which is very well done.

On the whole, not for me.

[Alli Shoemaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

New all-time favorite poet. Powers employs some of the most beautiful natural imagery and connects it to a larger being so well. Skip the Saints and the Birds poems, though, they have more to do with her personal affinity, and it’s a bit tougher to connect.