Incarnation: New and Selected Poems for Spiritual Reflection

By Irene Zimmerman

Book Overview

Incarnation restores to print the poems from Zimmerman's popular Woman Un-Bent and includes more than four dozen new and selected poems on scriptural themes.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1561012564
• ISBN13: 9781561012565
• Release Date: May 2007
• Publisher: Cowley Publications
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Profound Poems for Spiritual Reflection that Will Bless Your Life

Irene Zimmerman is my favorite Christian poet. Her poems in this collection are all profound and fresh reflections on Scripture which will bring the age-old Scriptures (and the beautiful Mystery behind them) alive in your own life as you contemplate them. She reminds us that the people of the Bible lived out their lives in the ordinary stuff of human existence but nonetheless experienced the holy and dazzling presence of God right in the midst of ordinary life - as God intends for us to do as well! Two poems which particularly highlight these themes are "Holy Ground" (129) and "Litany for Ordinary Time" (37). Although Zimmerman's poetry is overwhelmingly relevant for all, her work is particularly enchanting for women. Throughout her work she gently and insightfully engages the theme of what the gospel of grace means for women - dignity and equality. One of her most famous poems in the collection, "Woman Un-Bent" (70), speaks masterfully to this theme based on Jesus' miraculous healing of a crippled woman in the temple on the Sabbath. She also re-introduces to her readers Jesus' parable of God as a woman searching for a lost coin, helping us to appreciate God and God's love for us in new (yet Scripturally-based) ways. For this, see especially "The Lost Parable" (72). Another unique aspect of Zimmerman is that she also brilliantly engages themes of mission, service, and ministry in her poetry (especially but not exclusively of that done by women), leaving all ministers refreshed and encouraged to continue in their service of Christ. My only complaint about Zimmerman is that more of her work is not readily available. I pray that her rich poetry will bless your life as it has blessed mine.

The latest compilation of poetry by Irene Zimmerman

Incarnation: New And Selected Poems For Spiritual Reflection is the latest compilation of poetry by Irene Zimmerman (a Catholic nun and poet-in-residence at St. Joseph Retreat in Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin) who created her verse out of her study of and devotion to a deep and abiding love for God. Pontius Pilate At The Therapist: You say it could as easily have been/Barabbas' blood the rabble asked for--/that it was their leaders who incited them./But don't you see? That's it exactly, Sir!/The crowed called loud and clear for crucifixion./One has to pay attention to a people/who obey like that. You did precisely/what you had to do. Now win their leaders/loyalty and you've won the peace./Sometimes a man, innocent or not,/has to die to pay the price of it.//The man was innocent, you say?/But don't forget you washed your hands of him--/a little water cleared you of the deed./What a stroke of genius! Too bad/about your wife, though, washing her hands/a hundred times a day./No doubt in time/to come someone will make a play of it./Tell her what's done is done--/what's one life less as long as it's not hers./Perhaps you'd like to bring her too next time.//That's fifty denarii, please. Thank you, Sir.