Diamonds in a Stony Field

Diamonds in a Stony Field by Alla Ren e Bozarth contains poems from 1982 to 2022. The poems address historical events, literature, world-travels, and deeply personal experiences and perspectives with the underlying themes of loss and redemptive grace. In addition to her 40 years as a Gestalt therapist, she is one of the 15 Episcopal priests who cracked the stained glass ceiling in 1974 and 1975 by becoming the first ordained women deacons to be ordained to the priesthood, with the help of brave and conscientious male bishops. The poet understands prejudice from personal experience. But this book isn't directly about that. Its scope is broader. From her own stories and those of people in all walks of life, Alla Ren e Bozarth can speak of the process of making one's way, with help from others, through seemingly impossible situations, including war, poverty, family rejection, natural disasters, long illness and chronic prejudice, even with recurring instances of violence. Her poems testify that grace, grit and endurance can lead to breakthrough. When people work together, institutions can also become transformed. Where hatred prevailed, justice and kindness can take over and grow. Exploring sharp, stony fields, we may discover diamonds. Sometimes boulders in the way can serve as leaning stones while we catch our breath or lie low for a time, and notice how smaller stones break open to reveal diamonds inside that can capture sunlight.

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