Book Details:

Title: The Misuse of Scripture: Poems by Daniel Klawitter

Genre: Poetry/ Chapbook

Author: Daniel Klawitter

Get your copy on Amazon!Available in both Paperback and Kindle

 

About the Book:

Poet Daniel Klawitter turns his well-trained eye toward Holy Scripture in this entertaining and thought-provoking poetry chapbook riffing off of Bible verses. Rich in both pathos and humor, these non-dogmatic poems wrestle with issues of ageing, homophobia, marriage, environmental destruction, and the naked disciple in the Gospel of Mark (among many other topics). Klawitter (who was an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church for over a decade and a recipient of the Ronald E. Sleeth preaching award) has been described by author David J. Rothman as “a sly poet capable of great sweetness and formal grace,” and those traits are on full display in this delightful collection that blurs the categories between the sacred and the secular.

 

My Review

Klawitter’s latest chapbook is exactly what I needed to help pull me out of my apathetic reading slump. During the past several months, I’ve been overwhelmed at work. Digital church takes three times longer than regular church, and it’s especially challenging when you’re trying to edit together pre-recorded worship services with only one good eye (I’m a visually impaired pastor serving two small churches in Pennsylvania). I was working twelve hour days and over eighty hours a week, spending most of my waking hours staring at a screen. With everything going in on in the world, I was glad that my family was healthy and that the church considered me to be an “essential employee;” however, I was also feeling rather blue, as well as  experiencing a lot of pain from the eye strain. Other than sermons, I barely wrote a single word in over two months.

I was so exhausted that I didn’t even time to read— which is saying something, because I love books! When this little chapbook came into my life, I was intrigued. I am a fan of the author’s other books and I was pleased to see that he had a new one available. I read the entire book in one sitting — I didn’t want to put it down — but despite the fact that I devoured it quickly, the clever words have stuck with me for days. I keep pondering them and contemplating their many diverse meanings and how they might apply to my life.

I particularly enjoy Klawitter’s way of combining both scripture and verse. It forces me to look at the text in new (and sometimes uncomfortable) ways. Also, my favorite piece in this collection explored his experience in the Philippines, a country I’ve always wanted to visit since I’m half Filipino.

If you’re a fan of religious poetry and enjoy a dash of irreverent humor, this is one chapbook you won’t want to miss. Five stars 🙂

 

Other Poetry Related Posts

To read an interview with this author, please be sure to check out my review o his book, Quiet Insurrections. 

How to Wait by Erin Kelly–  Erin’s powerful poetry is raising disability awareness (includes author interview).

Through My Good Eye: A Memoir in Verse (shameless plug) if you’re a fan of religious poetry, perhaps you might be interested in my own chapbook.

 

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My name is Rebecca and I blog about faith, books, and disability awareness. Please subscribe by typing your email into the box so that you never miss a post! I’m also the author of The United Methodist Church and Disability. CLICK HERE to find out more information about my books!