"Delight the mind and awaken the soul"

I could never hold a candle.

I could never hold a candle
to your life.

I could never hold a candle
to your life,
but I will do my best.

I could never hold a candle
to your life,
but I will do my best
to hold my own.

(Anderson 40).



This poem by Kevin Anderson is only one of the "Nested Meditations" from his book "Divinity in Disguise." He developed this awesome form of poetry, which changes the piece's meaning as each line is added. In the introduction of his book, Mr. Anderson has this to say about his new form of the written word:

"I call these pieces meditations rather than poems because they are at odds in several ways with what is considered poetry today. These meditations are presented in a layered or "nested" format. They reveal themselves one line at a time, much like a set of Russian matryoshka dolls" (12).

I feel personally attached to Mr. Anderson's work for several reasons. Not only did my mother help to design the cover of the book, which uses Van Gogh's "Wheat Fields with Reaper, Auvers" (hanging in the Toledo Museum of Art), but I also have a signed copy by the author. His poetry reading was the first I ever attended, and I loved fully experiencing his pieces. Finally, Mr. Anderson's meditation entitled "Joy is succulent, wild!" was part of my award winning Prose and Poetry Reading speech. I competed with my piece, aptly named "Life According to Anne," at several Ohio High School Speech League tournaments and even at the state competition. I hope you enjoy this meditation as much as I do, and I wish that it reminds you to suck the joy of life out of every moment:

Joy is succulent, wild!

Joy is succulent, wild
black raspberries.

Joy is succulent, wild
black raspberries
overhanging every path.

Joy is succulent,
wild black raspberries
overhanging every path,
scratching for your attention right and left.

Joy is succulent, wild
black raspberries
overhanging every path,
scratching for your attention, right? And left
mostly unpicked?

(176).


All poems and excerpts are from Kevin Anderson's book "Divinity in Disguise":
Anderson, Kevin. Divinity in Disguise. Phoenix Color: Hagerstown, 2003.

For more information about Kevin Anderson and his books, visit his website: http://www.divinityindisguise.com/index.html