EASTER VIGIL AND OTHER POEMS

by Karol (Pope John Paul II) Wojtyla ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 30, 1979

Forty-two poems written by Pope John Paul II from 1950 to 1966, when he was a parish priest and then auxiliary bishop in Cracow. Poetry in translation is a dubious commodity, unless the translator can remake the original into something beautiful or striking in its own fight--and Peterkiewicz can't. On the other hand, judging from the one piece printed here in both Polish and English, ""Invocation to Man who became the body of history,"" the Pope's talents as a poet were modest to begin with. The verse in general is dry and prosaic, with only occasional flashes of creative vision. Yet, even though nobody would buy this slender book without the author's new title on the cover, it's nothing to be ashamed of. The Pope displays reasonable technical competence (e.g., in his use of assonance and internal rhymes), natural good taste (no stilted religiosity whatsovever), and a broad-minded humanity. He writes of scriptural scenes (the woman at the well), the daily grind (factory workers), his life as a bishop, and the encounter between the world and Christian faith. The voice we hear sounds quietly compassionate, though the language is oblique and often difficult. (The poems were published under the pseudonym ""Andrzej Jawien,"" and like all Polish authors the Pope had to write with one eye on the censor.) Christ is never mentioned by name, and all references to politics are suitably veiled. One poem, ""Simon of Cyrene,"" ends suggestively, ""Silence. Silence./Justice calls for rebellion. But rebellion against whom?."" None of the poems are truly memorable, but one feels better about the Pope knowing that he wrote them.

Pub Date: March 30, 1979

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1979

Categories: NONFICTION