Laughter: My Purgatory

by Paul Quenon

This collection of 29 poems tenderly weaves a rich tapestry of emotion and devotion. Quenon's evocative poetry explores dreams, memories, and his life in a monastery. Vivid and rich in imagery, this poetry gives voice to the soul. His touching poems about mother, twin sister, and grandmother are exquisitely crafted portraits that create a living memory with the reader. The heartfelt love and loss of family is balanced with the joy of remembering the goodness of their lives. In writing about his first sin, Quenon reveals the purity of heart -- even in darkness -- in each of us. His command of the language is deft, confident -- and yet holds surprises of innocent wonder. My Purgatory is a work of genuine emotion and intellectual maturity that perceptively reveals the unexpected benevolence of life.

60 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2002