To the Heart of Things

Much of the author's poetry is meticulously crafted in a variety of classical forms of metre, structure and style. Although maintaining such forms, he is never satisfied unless the poem flows in both words and sense: in words, so that the reading or recital is smooth and un-laboured; in sense, so that the structure supports the development of the poem in its exploration of the subject. In this way, while walking in the shadows of the great classical poets, he seeks to make his poems manifestations of a particular kind of beauty.

Table of Contents:
Contents On Poetry Introduction The Bridge 1 The Bramble Patch 2 The Substitute 3 Unequal to the Struggle? 6 Vengeance 7 After the Battle (Two Poems, in Prose) 8 Points of View - A Stone 11 The Dale in Spring 12 Lamaload in Autumn 13 Bowness at Dawn 14 The Whistling Wind 15 The Fallen Leaves 16 Winter 17 Crescendo 18 Silence 19 The Vine's Branches 20 Driving in the Night 21 Climbing Above the Valley 22 The Path 23 The Turning 24 The Cloud 25 A Different Beauty 26 A Droughted Tree 27 Ways 28 Wait and See 29 Love Unshrouded 30 The New Refrain 31 Evolution of Prayer 32 Love Rejoices 33

About the Author :
Mark Howitt has recently returned to writing poetry after a long fallow period. He started writing in his teens and continued through university years. After that he wrote very little for about 30 years. Then an internal dam burst and poetry has flowed from him ever since. Unusually for a poet, Mark has no literary background: he is a scientist, technologist and entrepreneur. Most weekends he loves to walk in the hills and mountains, and usually composes his poetry on such walks. His love of nature shines through many of his poems, and his love of people through most of the rest as he seeks to understand their motivations and compassionately lays bare their souls.

Review :
Beautifully written and inspiring, these poems bring me closer to the meaning of faith; Stuart Ross, Businessman. I commend these poems as they show a love and observation of Nature and of Scripture. The poems shed fresh light on both; Father Nick Kern, Parish Priest. Read, and allow yourself to become immersed in this poetic scripture that warms the soul and fills the mind with a sense of God with us; Deacon Eddie Miller, former Human Resources Manager. A joy to read! These poems reveal a strong vocational call and a spiritual depth that reflects the resilience of the human heart; Sr Camilla Oberding COLW