December 17, 2018
Peg Edera writes in the introduction to Love Is Deeper than Distance that “her husband, Fred, was diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia” in 2010. “Nine months later he was diagnosed with ALS. He was sixty-five.” With help from friends and family, Peg and her daughter cared for Fred “at home, until his death, shortly after he turned sixty-seven.” Peg’s collection of poems documents both the light and shadow of married love. And in one poem, It’s a Miracle, I Tell You, Peg suggests that the shared experiences in her life together with Fred were something sacred – a miracle:
It’s a Miracle, I Tell You
The staccato rain on the roof
The sudden parting of clouds
The silent worship of morning
The kettle’s steamy clicking on the stove
The stellar jay defending the nest
The gang of crows flying off
The 100 bones of feet
The climbing of mountains
The slenderness of throat
The fullness of hymns on Sunday
The meeting of you
The knowing of me
I tell you, it’s a miracle
Earlier this year, Barclay Press set off two new imprints so that we might say “yes” to more of the manuscripts writers bring our way without diluting the work that Barclay Press has always done. One of these new imprints, Springbrook Books, has released two titles for children this year and a coloring book. Peg’s book is the third collection of poetry released by our other new imprint, Fernwood Press.
Thank you,
Eric Muhr
P.S. Seeds of hope is the three-year campaign to fund the ministry of Barclay Press by developing new titles, supporting small churches, and balancing the budget. In order to stay on target to meet our goal of $162,000 by December 31, 2020, we need to get to $54,000 by the end of this year. As of this morning, we have raised $41,416 in gifts and pledges.
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