What do you think?
Rate this book
Eye of the Beholder
Luci Shaw is now 90 years old. The author of more than 35 collections of poetry and creative non-fiction over the last five decades, she describes her dedication to this art as a burden to “speak into a culture that finds it hard to listen.” This collection of new poems — all composed over the last two years — is in many ways the culmination of a stunning career.
The joy and responsibility of the poet is to focus on particulars within the universe, finding fragments of meaning that speak to the imagination. Ordinary things may reveal the extraordinary for those willing to take time to investigate and ponder. In this fresh collection of poems, Luci Shaw practices the art of seeing, and then writing what she sees, realizing that beauty is often focused in the Eye of the Beholder.
Eye of the Beholder is meant to awaken in readers awareness of the extraordinary in the ordinary. They will find in this collection a focus for meditation and be excited into their own imaginative writing.
The joy and responsibility of the poet is to focus on particulars within the universe, finding fragments of meaning that speak to the imagination. Ordinary things may reveal the extraordinary for those willing to take time to investigate and ponder. In this fresh collection of poems, Luci Shaw practices the art of seeing, and then writing what she sees, realizing that beauty is often focused in the Eye of the Beholder.
Eye of the Beholder is meant to awaken in readers awareness of the extraordinary in the ordinary. They will find in this collection a focus for meditation and be excited into their own imaginative writing.
- GenresPoetry
121 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 18, 2018
13 people are currently reading
57 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 17, 2019
According to Richard Rohr, the prophets in a social structure stand off-center in a place of observation. Their position on “the edge of inside” affords them a view that is informed and yet independent. From this vantage point, the Apostle John was given the divine direction: “Write what you see.” And he saw plenty.
At 90, Luci Shaw is still standing on “the edge of inside,” and she’s still enjoying the view. Her exuberance for life bubbles forth in words that stun and inspire, and her latest collection of poetry takes on topics as diverse as weather, prayer, aging and the writing process–all with seasoned wisdom.
An active outdoor life feeds Luci’s love of planet Earth, and Eye of the Beholder (Paraclete Poetry) invites readers to join her as she beholds the splendor. The frozen edge of a shallow bay becomes “a collar of intricate lace.” (52) The movement of water under a buffet of wind is “like silk breathing.” (54) In early spring, “tulip bulbs dream their own vegetable praise,” (66) while beloved birds, “music with feathers,” join in singing their own unique psalms. (22)
Beholding the Splendor
Generativity is a theme that ripples through Shaw’s words with integrity, for she is busy living her way into and through the aging process with its arthritis and its indignities by continuing to hone her craft and by daring to “dream optimism.” (87)
And no one writes seasonal poetry like Luci Shaw. The adornment of trees and moods of sky image their way into her words, and having composed original verse for her Christmas greetings since she was a child, her renderings of the biblical themes around incarnation and the glorious mysteries cause the deep Truth to sparkle anew:
“The dogwood leaves turn iron red in Fall,
their centers fully ripening–into small seeded balls,
each one a fruit vivid as Mary’s love, and edible.
The scion tree, once sprung from Jesse’s root,
speaks pain and life and love compressed
and taken in, eye, mouth, heart. Incredible
that now all Eucharists in our year suggest
the living Jesus is our Christmas guest.” (23)
When the eye of the beholder is connected to a poetic gift, the view is fresh and challenging, but everyone with an incarnational view of the universe is invited to behold the splendor in her own way. “Ordinary things may reveal the extraordinary for those willing to take time to investigate and ponder.” For Luci Shaw, ninety years of seeing has not taken the edge off wonder. This collection of new poems that focuses on the particulars and connects the dots to imagination are all the invitation I need.
Many thanks to Paraclete Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
At 90, Luci Shaw is still standing on “the edge of inside,” and she’s still enjoying the view. Her exuberance for life bubbles forth in words that stun and inspire, and her latest collection of poetry takes on topics as diverse as weather, prayer, aging and the writing process–all with seasoned wisdom.
An active outdoor life feeds Luci’s love of planet Earth, and Eye of the Beholder (Paraclete Poetry) invites readers to join her as she beholds the splendor. The frozen edge of a shallow bay becomes “a collar of intricate lace.” (52) The movement of water under a buffet of wind is “like silk breathing.” (54) In early spring, “tulip bulbs dream their own vegetable praise,” (66) while beloved birds, “music with feathers,” join in singing their own unique psalms. (22)
Beholding the Splendor
Generativity is a theme that ripples through Shaw’s words with integrity, for she is busy living her way into and through the aging process with its arthritis and its indignities by continuing to hone her craft and by daring to “dream optimism.” (87)
And no one writes seasonal poetry like Luci Shaw. The adornment of trees and moods of sky image their way into her words, and having composed original verse for her Christmas greetings since she was a child, her renderings of the biblical themes around incarnation and the glorious mysteries cause the deep Truth to sparkle anew:
“The dogwood leaves turn iron red in Fall,
their centers fully ripening–into small seeded balls,
each one a fruit vivid as Mary’s love, and edible.
The scion tree, once sprung from Jesse’s root,
speaks pain and life and love compressed
and taken in, eye, mouth, heart. Incredible
that now all Eucharists in our year suggest
the living Jesus is our Christmas guest.” (23)
When the eye of the beholder is connected to a poetic gift, the view is fresh and challenging, but everyone with an incarnational view of the universe is invited to behold the splendor in her own way. “Ordinary things may reveal the extraordinary for those willing to take time to investigate and ponder.” For Luci Shaw, ninety years of seeing has not taken the edge off wonder. This collection of new poems that focuses on the particulars and connects the dots to imagination are all the invitation I need.
Many thanks to Paraclete Press for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.
January 3, 2020
Poetry is one of those things that I want others to know I read so that I can appear smart. But then when I read poetry, I'm usually thinking, "I haven't a hot clue what this is about." It's simply one of those things that requires either a focused mind, or a huge amount of grace for eclectic ideas and personalities. I basically gave up my inauthentic veneer years back and haven't attempted to pick up the habit again.
Until recently. Luci Shaw, a favourite poet of those that call Regent College their Mecca, has numerous books of poems out there and I thought I should see what all the fuss is about.
I was not disappointed. I couldn't figure out things like pacing or metre, and there was barely a rhyme to be had. I had to google again what poetry is, and my favourite definition that came up was "the art of the sentence."
Luci Shaw writes great sentences. She writes about the everyday stuff she sees around her--nature, people, tasks and hobbies, time and relationships--and she makes the reader feel that they should either become more alive and observant to the world around them, or simply rejoice in the joy of being alive. This is what Eye of the Beholder did for me. A book of simple poems. But perhaps also a book of prophetic observations: God is in the details, whether that's in the way time wrinkles our hands and memories, or how snow turns thistles into fresh flowers.
And, in full confession, having a poetry book read as my first book of 2020 has left me feeling joyful, yes, but also smart and smug.
Until recently. Luci Shaw, a favourite poet of those that call Regent College their Mecca, has numerous books of poems out there and I thought I should see what all the fuss is about.
I was not disappointed. I couldn't figure out things like pacing or metre, and there was barely a rhyme to be had. I had to google again what poetry is, and my favourite definition that came up was "the art of the sentence."
Luci Shaw writes great sentences. She writes about the everyday stuff she sees around her--nature, people, tasks and hobbies, time and relationships--and she makes the reader feel that they should either become more alive and observant to the world around them, or simply rejoice in the joy of being alive. This is what Eye of the Beholder did for me. A book of simple poems. But perhaps also a book of prophetic observations: God is in the details, whether that's in the way time wrinkles our hands and memories, or how snow turns thistles into fresh flowers.
And, in full confession, having a poetry book read as my first book of 2020 has left me feeling joyful, yes, but also smart and smug.
April 20, 2020
Luci Shaw is 92 years old and this is probably her final poetry collection. Her first was published in 1971. She is a teacher and associate at Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. She brings a deeply held Christian perspective to her work, yet speaks to the whole culture. I especially love the nature poetry is this work.
January 21, 2023
First poetry collection I've read the entire way through, and feel as if I've just discovered a gold mine.
If beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, then I want to watch the world through Luci Shaw's eyes. The reverence she has for daily life: the breath of wind rustling through leaves on a tree, blood vessels like rivers and tributaries within her hand, and a recognition of God's deep presence and goodness - is nothing short of infectious.
In one beautiful couplet, she displays both her humility, and reverence for the world and the God who made it:
"Who am I to psalm the universe?
Who am I not, I who have become His habitation?"
I hope that through meditating on her world, I can share in her beautiful vision of the world and creatively return praise and worship to He that made it.
If beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, then I want to watch the world through Luci Shaw's eyes. The reverence she has for daily life: the breath of wind rustling through leaves on a tree, blood vessels like rivers and tributaries within her hand, and a recognition of God's deep presence and goodness - is nothing short of infectious.
In one beautiful couplet, she displays both her humility, and reverence for the world and the God who made it:
"Who am I to psalm the universe?
Who am I not, I who have become His habitation?"
I hope that through meditating on her world, I can share in her beautiful vision of the world and creatively return praise and worship to He that made it.
February 4, 2024
Luci is one of those poets whose eye to capture the natural world with words feels like magic.
From her introduction-
“Poets and prophets may not always be at the center of a social structure. Rather they are on "the edge of inside," as Richard Rohr has said. We stand on a kind of threshold looking out, and in, and then, using the magic of language, we may open a window, point at a landscape and ask: "Can you see what I'm seeing?"
From her introduction-
“Poets and prophets may not always be at the center of a social structure. Rather they are on "the edge of inside," as Richard Rohr has said. We stand on a kind of threshold looking out, and in, and then, using the magic of language, we may open a window, point at a landscape and ask: "Can you see what I'm seeing?"
January 5, 2020
The theme of 2019, and likely '20, was being mindful. This book was a delightful companion as I chaperoned a spring trip. Each poem expresses much with an economy that allows for personal contemplation with the added bonus of Mrs. Shaw's insightful writing about writing.
December 30, 2025
I absolutely love Luci Shaw! This book is a delight.
I learned she passed away one of the days I was reading this book, which feels like someone very dear dying just as I was beginning to know them. Blessings and comfort to her family.
I learned she passed away one of the days I was reading this book, which feels like someone very dear dying just as I was beginning to know them. Blessings and comfort to her family.
February 4, 2019
Luci Love.
November 1, 2021
Beautiful word choices, restful and refreshing. Poetry about nature, aging, faith, writing... well worth a read.
September 22, 2022
Incredibly delicious.
March 2, 2023
Among the contemporary poetry books that I have read so far, I can say that this one is the best I have read ☺️
January 2, 2026
I found her premise, that poetry is like prophecy, interesting. Some beautiful word pictures.
September 4, 2021
Gosh I love Luci Shaw and will read anything she writes.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews