Review of The Sunrise Liturgy: A Poem Sequence by Mia Anderson

A river runs through this book, a river of voices summoning the son of Man, and singing the sunrise into being over and over again. Every iteration occurs as a unique phenomenon and confirms one last time the grandeur of God. The concept of resurrection is never far from the text. The author/poet, Mia Anderson, is an Anglican priest based in Quebec Canada, her river is the St. Lawrence and her poetry reflects a liturgical performance. Her mission appears to be nothing less than the uniting of pagan natural rituals with the sacerdotal rites practiced in her Christian religion. The cadences of these virtual psalms soar lovingly and perceptively over her heretical images. Yes pantheism does harken back to Francis of Assisi and his Canticle to the Sun—but he, being a saint, gets away with heresy. Well, apparently so does Anderson. In fact one of her blurbs is signed by Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury. So I guess that seals the deal. I’m glad of it! Besides, saints and poets alone can merge symbols and reconstruct moldy religious doctrines into an inspiring faith-based reality, which not only renews the religion but taps its very essence. Again religion becomes a force for good (for a change) and, dare I say, godliness.  For more of my review go here: http://dougholder.blogspot.com/2012/12/the-sunrise-liturgy-poem-sequence-by.html