Living with What Remains By Judith D. Dupree Quiddity Press (2004) Reviewed by Cherie Burbach for Reader Views (3/06)

"Living With What Remains” speaks of a message of hope in a world so often filled with struggle. The work consists of three sections of all free- verse poetry, the presence of God and faith visible throughout. I found the later poems of the book to be suggestive of the Psalms - calling out to God in desperation and lament. In poems such as "Epiphany” we are reminded that nature's knowledge of God and His power is equivalent to our own, perhaps more so - the tone reminding me of Mary Oliver's work from time to time.

In "Wind & Light & Sparrows” we get a sense of light through the darkest times, that even when the world seems bleakest we can cling to faith to see us through:

"The earth will turn will bow before the shadowed dark and shrug me on... but I am not undone, not chilled to hope.”

I was charmed by "And He Turns,” and the reminder of how awkwardly we sometimes summons God, and the majestic way He responds:

"God looks over His shoulder and He sees us in our waiting sees us hem-and-hawing, standing there, needing Him, not wanting to disturb Him.”

And then:

"He turns, the way He taught the earth to balance on its axis;

He turns like the eager flex of sun come forth to cover us each morning”

The poem "Blessing” offers a delightfully simple picture of God's grace broken up by hours, days, years, the world, and finally, the kingdom. It sums up our short lives on earth and how quickly they will pass before we are transported to God's kingdom, where our new life of forever will begin.

I especially enjoyed "Building The House” and its sweet nod to Habitat for Humanity, as well as "These Things,” in its reminder of the true meaning of our lives here on earth:

"We must weigh our lonely evidence of grief against the quiet summary of Hope - and push beyond”

Appropriately rounding out the book is the poem, "Long Walk Home,” which reminds us of the world to come, when we are finished with this short life and enter Heaven with "arms full of dreams both lived and shriveled.” The poem paints a beautiful picture of the majesty and importance of God:

"He comes. He simply steps from nothing into everything and everywhere and all that was and is and never came to be.”