The Denouement

Metaphysical poetry is poetry that ponders some of the more profound aspects of Christian theology ranging from the relationship of human beings created in God’s image to the rest of creation, to the nature and purpose of what God has called human beings to both be and do. In this, now the sixth collection of Ben Witherington’s poems written mostly in the twenty-first century, the focus is on the Denouement or slow decline of nature in the fall, of human nature in the Fall, of Witherington’s own settling into the latter years of his own life. All these things are explored at some length. There are poems particularly reflecting on the major seasons in the Christian year—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Kingdomtide—but also reflections on major events in Christian history, ranging from the rescue of the Lindisfarne Gospels from invading enemies to the death and resurrection of Christ. There are poems that explore the specific meaning of the Christian life as it goes through aging, family tragedy, a half a century of teaching the Bible, and much more.