Ascent/Descent

Walter Wangerins Ascent/Descent is a book all but unique in my experience: its components are biographical geographical and--how to name it?--obliquely theological. But in all of the collections five sections the principal word that leaps to my mind is lyrical. Rendering the elaborate narrative of his Virginia and Walter realizing the hieratic voice of Rilke even translating the Dies irae so on Wangerins mouth-fillingly rich language draws us so completely into his material that we are unable (and glad of it) to extricate ourselves. Pluperfectly absorbing! --Sydney Lea Vermont Poet Laureate (2011-2015)