ISBN: 1906038295/9781906038298
This book of poetry from Mr Patterson is now a very firm favourite book. I received it two years ago, having purchased it after reading his "The Art of Conversation with the Genius Loci
" and enjoying the writing style, as well as content. At the time I shelved it to be read later in favour of other books I was reading at the time and this may have been a mistake, except that I believe that, sometimes, things happen at the right time.This past week has been rather erratic: one day good, the next horrible. I keep books at work to read, but on one particular day which wasn't going well, I felt I didn't want to read what I had to hand, so before I left for work I searched high and low among my shelves for something a little inspiring. I located "Nature Mystic" and put it in my satchel.
The day did not improve, and, in a quiet moment or two, I found time to read "Nature Mystic" and everything changed, because despite being a very slim volume every poem is worth spending time reading, and re-reading.
From the very first, I found myself thinking, indeed feeling different. Barry Patterson has written very much from the heart about us, and our place in the world - man-made and natural. His writing is earthy, inspiring, dark, light and reaches into my very being. Reading his poetry changed the fortunes of my day. It was a good day because I had this book, with its beautiful writing in my possession.
I should like to add some of the material here, but samples of Barry Patterson's writing can be read at his website. I don't have the ability to critique poetry [there are reviews on the net where you can read more scholarly critiques of this book], but, like art, I know what I like and I truly enjoyed, and appreciated "Nature Mystic".
I urge those who like (pagan) poetry to purchase and read "Nature Mystic".
Rating: 5/5.
