What do you think?
Rate this book
The Jubilee: Poems
In plain-speak reminiscent of William Stafford or Jim Harrison, John Blase traverses a landscape both strangely familiar and yet utterly the “simple meadow of the heart.” In The Jubilee, the poet’s vision is rooted firmly in ordinary cashmere and cleavage, a jar of olives, the “mobile home” of our flesh. His gentle, winsome poems, laced liberally with a lifetime of scripture, offer his readers a refreshing glimpse into all things God—and good. ~ Joy Roulier Sawyer, author of Tongues of Men and Angels It is rare to be called home and onward in the same moment. In The Jubilee, poet John Blase naturalizes human faith so real as to transcend any hint of cultural affectation. For certain you’ll go to church, but by way of “frog song,” his father’s “instant coffee,” and in the sober burial of the prodigal “out back beneath the oaks.” One gets a sense of reading the marrow of a man and not merely his words. In doing so, the old way becomes a true way onward, home. ~ James Scott Smith, Author of Water, Rocks and Trees
- GenresPoetry
70 pages, Paperback
Published March 19, 2017
6 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 17, 2024
When my European maternal grandfather was young, he sailed the seven seas.
That’s what kids did back in the nineteenth century when they were restless at home - they sought romance and adventure on the high ocean waves.
The American import trade was a place where he could find an income - and manly maturity - and so put his wanderlust to good use.
Granddad would later become an importer in his own right, after settling in San Francisco, where he met my Grandmother.
His many oriental and shipping friendships had stood him in good stead. He became a successful businessman and a proud and loving family man.
His vast personal library reflected Eastern and exotic tastes, too, which he had made his own.
And his taste for the impeccable brevity of oriental verse was in turn passed on to us - for we inherited his collection of translations of these classics, like Arthur Whaley’s, among which is my wife’s favourite:
I come, I come, without purpose.
I go, I go - why do I go?
If anyone should ask the Way
I laugh and say, “Hai, hai!”
You know, the unassuming American writer John Blase’s poetic voice sings with the same deep discipline and distilled brevity - and he has a splendid gift for it.
I have included some excerpts from his poetry in my notes.
Like my Grandfather, Blase has a sense of highly-honed integrity. It was a watchword for pious folks in the old days and Blase patiently retains it too.
His early days were lived as an Arkansas pastor, but he has since become a Midwest writer of inspirational stories at ODB - and of course, his wonderfully and so painstakingly pellucid poetry.
His vignettes are still published quarterly in the periodical Our Daily Bread - and that’s where I ran across him for the first time.
A homebody like me, you may quite understandably be unfamiliar with his genius for making monuments quietly with words.
These are his best.
Today, I opened my new issue of ODB, and saw a story by John - the headliner...
"Alice Kaholusana recounts a story of how the Hawaiian people would sit outside their temples for long periods before entering in.
"Afterward, they would sit outside again for a long time to "breathe life" into their prayers. When missionaries came to the island, on the other hand, they would utter a few sentences, call them 'prayer', say amen, and be done with it.
"The Hawaiians described these prayers as being 'without breath.'"
John's poems have real Breath - Pneuma - and they are infused with the Spirit.
And they’re real, Lived, Breathing words, sharpened and polished with heartfelt experience.
And you know a poem’s real if it’s conceived in the heart -
And brought into the light of day gently with the attentively loving patience of living Breath.
That’s what kids did back in the nineteenth century when they were restless at home - they sought romance and adventure on the high ocean waves.
The American import trade was a place where he could find an income - and manly maturity - and so put his wanderlust to good use.
Granddad would later become an importer in his own right, after settling in San Francisco, where he met my Grandmother.
His many oriental and shipping friendships had stood him in good stead. He became a successful businessman and a proud and loving family man.
His vast personal library reflected Eastern and exotic tastes, too, which he had made his own.
And his taste for the impeccable brevity of oriental verse was in turn passed on to us - for we inherited his collection of translations of these classics, like Arthur Whaley’s, among which is my wife’s favourite:
I come, I come, without purpose.
I go, I go - why do I go?
If anyone should ask the Way
I laugh and say, “Hai, hai!”
You know, the unassuming American writer John Blase’s poetic voice sings with the same deep discipline and distilled brevity - and he has a splendid gift for it.
I have included some excerpts from his poetry in my notes.
Like my Grandfather, Blase has a sense of highly-honed integrity. It was a watchword for pious folks in the old days and Blase patiently retains it too.
His early days were lived as an Arkansas pastor, but he has since become a Midwest writer of inspirational stories at ODB - and of course, his wonderfully and so painstakingly pellucid poetry.
His vignettes are still published quarterly in the periodical Our Daily Bread - and that’s where I ran across him for the first time.
A homebody like me, you may quite understandably be unfamiliar with his genius for making monuments quietly with words.
These are his best.
Today, I opened my new issue of ODB, and saw a story by John - the headliner...
"Alice Kaholusana recounts a story of how the Hawaiian people would sit outside their temples for long periods before entering in.
"Afterward, they would sit outside again for a long time to "breathe life" into their prayers. When missionaries came to the island, on the other hand, they would utter a few sentences, call them 'prayer', say amen, and be done with it.
"The Hawaiians described these prayers as being 'without breath.'"
John's poems have real Breath - Pneuma - and they are infused with the Spirit.
And they’re real, Lived, Breathing words, sharpened and polished with heartfelt experience.
And you know a poem’s real if it’s conceived in the heart -
And brought into the light of day gently with the attentively loving patience of living Breath.
October 20, 2018
If you enjoy the work of Annie Dillard and Cormac McCarthy this set of poems will speak life to you.
April 9, 2017
I'd originally intended to read this chapbook one poem a day. But then I got swept up by the verse and decided I didn't want to be so disciplined. As I read, I underlined and circled and wrote tiny notes in the margins. I highly recommend John Blase's work for poetry fans.
October 8, 2022
I may have just found my favorite modern poet.
September 1, 2020
Gut-wrenching without nihlism and redemptive without naïveté. Brilliant
May 14, 2025
As I've sought to explore the realm of poetry, I've come to realize just how diverse poetry can be. There are poets adept at rhyme and wordplay, others that create interesting and unconventional structures for their poems, wordsmiths who craft elaborate descriptions of emotions and details, there are also those who are able to be profound with a minimal use of words. This is what I was able to experience with John Blase's The Jubilee.
Blase has very few poems that are long, but yet presents many profound truths within those scarcity of words. Admittedly, not all poems in this collection hit me with the same profundity, but this is true of all poetry collections. His structure also didn't really grab me, but when he put those profound observations in a few lines, it was very thought provoking and satisfying.
I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. While it may not have reached the level of new favorite, it was still an enjoyable experience with some profound poems within.
Blase has very few poems that are long, but yet presents many profound truths within those scarcity of words. Admittedly, not all poems in this collection hit me with the same profundity, but this is true of all poetry collections. His structure also didn't really grab me, but when he put those profound observations in a few lines, it was very thought provoking and satisfying.
I really enjoyed this collection of poetry. While it may not have reached the level of new favorite, it was still an enjoyable experience with some profound poems within.
January 24, 2022
John writes in everyday language with poetic form. His book "The Jubilee" was such a joy to read. Full of personal reflections and a deep understanding of human nature at its best--and worst. Often funny, always delightful.
Read
March 15, 2020A lovely book of poems that speak to the heart and soul. John Blase plumbs the human/spiritual condition in honest, helpful ways. Reminiscent of the honesty of the Psalms -- which we need.
October 11, 2017
Blase's writing is raw and accessible. He's one of the rare poets who can speak the spiritual life through poetry well. It's not trite or made of kitsch phrases.
July 17, 2017
Everything I love about John Blase's poetry is present in this collection. His poems either articulate familiar musings of the heart more effectively and concisely than I ever could, or bring a sense of familiarity to the unfamiliar. The fifty poems he chose for this short collection are ones that either resonated with me the first time I read them, or developed new meaning when I came across them again. I recommend this book to everyone, as it bridges the gap between beauty and the everyday experience, grief, annoyances, and all. There's power in these words, and I'm thankful for them.
April 25, 2017
John Blase is one of those rare poets who make something profound read simply and something simple beyond profound. He never opts for the cheap feeling or weak language. Rather, he forces you to sit in the moment, to stew in it for better or worse, until you get where you need to be. John has a way of combining opposites in such a way that you wonder how you ever lived without either extreme, and what's even better...it feels utterly effortless. And for that reason alone, his verse approaches something divine.
I've read it once and will likely do so again to make sure I get anything I missed the first go-round.
I've read it once and will likely do so again to make sure I get anything I missed the first go-round.
April 27, 2017
It's not lame.
I think it might even be low key about manhood.
And... It's wonderful.
I think it might even be low key about manhood.
And... It's wonderful.
April 29, 2017
I've not written many book reviews in recent months--certainly not on pace with the number of books that I have read. But I would be a poor friend if I didn't tell you about this one.
I wish I could tell you where I encountered the poetry of John Blase, but I cannot. What I can tell you is that someone, for now unnamed, shared his poem "Actually, Scratch That." Though I do not remember the giver of this gift, I am grateful because Blase's poem captivated me. A quick Amazon search showed a book of his poetry, The Jubilee: Poems (Bright Coppers Press, 2017). I immediately ordered his book having no knowledge of the book, or its author, based on 14 short lines.
Blase's poetry did not disappoint. Good poets have eyes and ears tuned to creation's details. As Blase wrote, "the poet notices the world's curves." They are gifted in teaching their readers to take notice. Blase certainly accomplished that in The Jubilee. At several points, I needed to stop and ponder what he wrote, not due to complexity, but because he fosters a creational awareness so well.
An unfortunate truth is that many people avoid poetry, finding it confusing, boring, or perhaps overly sentimental. As a poetry lover, I am never sure where to direct those who might have a spark of interest in poetry. Mary Oliver is certainly good and so is Wendell Berry, yet if I am to be honest, this might well be the first book I recommend now. It is both accessible and fosters sacred wonder.
I will look forward to more and if they never arrive, I shall cherish these.
I wish I could tell you where I encountered the poetry of John Blase, but I cannot. What I can tell you is that someone, for now unnamed, shared his poem "Actually, Scratch That." Though I do not remember the giver of this gift, I am grateful because Blase's poem captivated me. A quick Amazon search showed a book of his poetry, The Jubilee: Poems (Bright Coppers Press, 2017). I immediately ordered his book having no knowledge of the book, or its author, based on 14 short lines.
Blase's poetry did not disappoint. Good poets have eyes and ears tuned to creation's details. As Blase wrote, "the poet notices the world's curves." They are gifted in teaching their readers to take notice. Blase certainly accomplished that in The Jubilee. At several points, I needed to stop and ponder what he wrote, not due to complexity, but because he fosters a creational awareness so well.
An unfortunate truth is that many people avoid poetry, finding it confusing, boring, or perhaps overly sentimental. As a poetry lover, I am never sure where to direct those who might have a spark of interest in poetry. Mary Oliver is certainly good and so is Wendell Berry, yet if I am to be honest, this might well be the first book I recommend now. It is both accessible and fosters sacred wonder.
I will look forward to more and if they never arrive, I shall cherish these.
July 14, 2018
Here's a collection of what's clean and bright, things hard and good for their hardness. This book of verse would fit nicely with your summer, friends.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews