Anno Domini

A collection of--often brief--poetic reflections loosely based on the liturgical year but interspersed with poems on selected Gospel passages Anno Domini will quickly engage even the beginning reader of religious poetry. It will also appeal to seminarians and college students interested in religious poetry. Anno Domini provides a selective take on some key religious themes that will by turns move console and inspire. The poems in this collection examine everyday perceptions experiences and events under the inspiration of faith. They also look at some familiar Gospel stories in a twenty-first century light. The collection as a whole presents a spirituality of presence gratitude and graceful living in the world. A book of meditative verse less cerebral than the poetry that Louis Martz examined in The Poetry of Meditation but like Killian McDonnells Wrestling with God Anno Domini is a non-polemical yet thoughtful and serious contribution to Christian poetry. Meant for readers new to religious verse it will appeal to busy people who need a moments break for the experience of gratitude and grace as well as Christian poets seeking inspiration and models for the short religious lyric. This little volume invites us to look again at the small things which so often stun us with a call to depth of purpose. Ed Blocks gifts as poet contemplator educator and gardener combine in these lines to invite us to greater attentiveness on our daily rounds. --Carol Ann Smith spiritual director; co-author of Moment By Moment: A Retreat In Everyday Life In ordinary time we wait... for poetry which touches our soul. Anno Domini paints word pictures of the real and promises of things unseen. Behold a book for all the seasons of our lives! Personally I have been enriched by these prayer poems. They elicit prayerful pondering. I look forward to using them in my spiritual ministry to others. --Eugene F. Merz spiritual/retreat director; co-author of Moment by Moment: A Retreat in Everyday Life At times bringing Gospel stories to life in moving detail at times seeing extraordinary sacredness in nature and in the cycles of the year at times unflinchingly confronting dryness and despair these poems as prayers--prayers as poems--are a tremendous gift. Whether drawing our eyes to the soft grass or the weeds Blocks poems shine bright light on just how much weve been given but settle for no cheap grace. --Thomas M. Landy College of the Holy Cross; founder and director Collegium The directness and faith of a line like this one from the poem At Christmas permeate all of Ed Blocks Anno Domini: At every moment / Jesus touches us with gentleness. Indeed. Blocks work opens readers up to new opportunities to receive that gentle and life-changing touch. --Zach Czaia Author of Saint Paul Lives Here (In Minnesota) Ed Block is Emeritus Professor of English at Marquette University Milwaukee Wisconsin where he taught for thirty-five years. His poems have appeared in a wide variety of religious and secular magazines and journals. He is currently at work on a chapbook tentatively titled Season of Changes.