Untune the Sky: Occasional, Stammering Verse

by Douglas Wilson

Book by Wilson, Douglas

Genres: Poetry

143 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

I write in order to make the little voices in my head go away. Thus far it hasn't worked.

Reviews

[Caleb Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilson is an admitted “non-perfectionist” and it shows a bit in his poetry. Then again, he probably doesn’t mind. However, the book is worth it for the last poem alone, “The Night Before Whatsit”.


“‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the land
We still mark the birth of the One who is banned
…
Now this is alright because, please get this straight,
There’s no separation of North Pole and state”

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is simply a collection of poems. Some are so ordinary, speaking in rhythm and rhyme of things like mowing the grass. Others reach deeply into your mind (or at least mine) and press on things you struggle to give words to (again, at least I struggle to), let alone beautiful words to.

I very much enjoyed reading this. One of my biggest takeaways is how splendid and beautiful it is when the Psalms are set to rhyme and meter. I want to read them every day in that format.

[Jonathan Lovelace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can be picky about poetry---not quite pedantic, but picky. (See my reviews of books by fellow writers from a now-defunct forum here, here, here, and here; when I was trying to be as encouraging as possible, "promising" was the highest praise I could honestly give them.) But while a few poems in this collection proved the subtitle correct by meter that stumbled more than it carried the sense, at least eighty percent (to make a very conservative estimate) were "right up my alley" as far as my poetic sensibilities are concerned. And the "matter" is such that I want to take time to reread this in a month or two, and maybe even try to memorize one or two of the poems. As a poet myself, apart from everything else this collection is an inspiration.

I should also mention that many of the poems here show Wilson's gift for wit and humor. I don't usually attempt comic verse myself, since I know that when I attempt humor it rarely "lands," but Wilson has a gift for wordplay, irony, and other aspects of humor whose names now escape me, and this is on full display in his verse here.

(I also wouldn't mind a chance to see how the typesetting of this Kindle edition was done, since it looks far better in terms of layout, spacing, and such than any other verse I've read on a Kindle or in the Kindle cloud reader, ever, including my own books.)

[Isaiah Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An attempt to fix my meager appreciation for poetry.

“The man who bends his heart and knee
Stands taller than the rest
Who dare despise authority;
For mocking fools have never guessed
Authority is submission blessed.”

“His Bible’s worn, his hands are, too;
They’ve spent their years together.”

“Beneath the pressing awful weight
Of Adam’s primal sin,
The human race resides in hate
And loves the death within.
With such, persuasion works in vain.
These bones will not be led,
But God takes captives in His train—
His preachers raise the dead.”

[laurenpie · Rating 5 out of 5]

very impactful

I can't put into words how much I loved these poems. Wow. Very impactful. Wilson is a deep thinker, and he's condensed that into poems both spiritual and secular, poignant and light. Some of these poems are of the type where you read that one poem, and then you cannot read or even contemplate anything else for a week. A truly great work.

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry is one of those things that a lot of people struggle to grasp. It's so unlike any other type of writing, yet it still can convey truths, stories, prose, and humor. I don't read as much poetry as I'd like, but Wilson has kept me in the boat.

[Sean Brothers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetry is hard for me but I love the idea of it. Hoping to learn more

[Ammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

These were entertaining.

[Austin Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Especially the last section "Versus Incanti"

[Will Dole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, better than I expected. A number are pretty pedestrian, but there are a few real gems.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun musings about Christ, Scriptures, and life. Most with a bravado; pithy hips. Brought to you by Wilson Wordsmithery; poems forged in quips.

[Brandon Adkison · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not much of a poetry person, but I would like to be one. This seemed like a decent place to start.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A DW library is not complete without this little volume.

Unfortunately, whenever I take a little dip into poetry - Dante, Milton, Shakespeare - I just don't get it. And this little book is no exception.

[Dr. Jon Pirtle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incisive. Witty. Biblical. Convicting. Wilson is the Christian H.L. Mencken.

[Ryan Boomershine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable stammering verse.

[Jake McAtee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific.

[Steve Hemmeke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky; punchy

[Winnie Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this guy's poetry as much as I do his prose.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like most of his books, it's simple and still deep.