Another Milestone!

Another milestone is reached – I have finally approved the interior design and layout for the back cover to First Vespers and in a matter of a just few days, it will be heading off to the printers. It has been an interesting journey and thanks to a wonderful niece that I keep in my back pocket, Leila Briggs, and the many talented people at Deep River. First Vespers has turned out to be an even more beautiful book than I could have possibly ever imagined.

In the beginning, my submittal for the back cover featured a poem entitled, “A Poet’s Prayer” that was superimposed over a photograph of the Steps of Penitence leading through The Arch of St. Stephen to the peak of Mount Sinai. It was a powerful and awe inspiring photograph that the photographer, Chris Barton had simply given me the copyright permissions for. Of the fifty plus works of art contained in First Vespers that I had acquired copyrights for, only Chris’ photograph was obtained for free and I will be forever grateful for his big heart. Unfortunately, the photograph did not make the final cut.

After much discussion, it was felt that the natural colors of the photograph, particularly the deep blue sky background did not aesthetically correspond with the brown hues selected for the cover to First Vespers. Although beautiful in its own right, the photograph did not display in a manner that complimented the rest of the book and the decision was made by consensus to publish the poem without the picture. The poem was inspired by God and is a poetic representation of what I hope to accomplish for the reader. A Poet’s Prayer now resides on the back cover to First Vespers and reads as follows:

A Poet’s Prayer

Oh, rusty winded familiar rattling howl,

Your voice within now beckons the call.

Come forth, Holy Father, in poetic verse;

Inspire godly thoughts, Mother and Nurse.

As life shatters dreams with hard days,

Lead my thoughts in Your heavenly ways.

Lord, flood my words with all You conceive.

Bring insight and virtue to all I believe.

Versify a score of sestets, octets, and more.

Show me all heaven never leaving the floor.

Bring triumph to destiny, body, and souls.

Inscribe Your meaning in poetry and prose.

Chris Barton’s photograph of the Steps of Penitence leading through The Arch of St. Stephen to the peak of Mount Sinai that the poem was originally superimposed over.