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sloatsj's review against another edition
3.0
Written in the voice of Daniel Boone, Maurice Manning’s “A Companion for Owls” is most concerned with the fearsome questions “what is the meaning of life?” and “what is God up to?,” and doing what any god-fearing backwoodsman would do, i.e. concluding you’re not smart enough to know. Although the themes addressed could take place in any era and concern any believer, Manning gives them a particular flavor and context by couching them in the persona of Boone, the uneducated frontiersman, “rugged individualist” and “noble savage,” American folk hero who rescued his daughter from Indian kidnappers, land surveyor, husband, brother, father, failed speculator, and foe of the gentry.
Reading this book is a bit of a trip back in time, both in setting and voice, which forsakes all irony. Although not overtly dressed up that way, this is a book of religious poetry. The natural world and human interaction and relationships are addressed, too, but mostly Boone wonders about God’s purposes. In the end notes, Boone is quoted as having said “many dark and sleepless nights I have been a companion for owls. . .” God is mysterious and his intentions mostly impenetrable, leading to “our ragged life of questions” with its many loose ends.
The first poem in the book, “On God,” helps prepare the reader for all the questions to come, as it jumps in:
“Is there a god of the gulf between a man
and a horse? A god who hovers above the trench
of difference?”
Throughout the book, I was amazed how many questions emerged. For fun, here’s a brief selection:
Is the whole world endlessness?
Is sunlight dripping on the leaves a question suitable for clocks?
Can a wounded man be spoken of in terms of neutral hours?
Whose dust will I become?
Is grace forgetting we are but specks in the iris of a monstrous eye?
What about a god of animal innards?
Who discovered salt?
Upon my soul I wonder, who invented beauty?
Where does all gravity gather and what light does it make?
Is there a cave against sorrow?
Why is a woman like clover to a man?
What in the name of Shadrach, Meshach, and that other one is an inalienable right?
Aren’t we all worldlings, in a way?
How many miles are all the rivers put together?
"A Companion for Owls" has a number of things in common with Manning’s "Bucolics." Both books set out to show the integrity of the “natural man,” someone honest and situated somewhat to the left of civilization. Both books puzzle after God. "Bucolics" is a series of innocent and contemplative psalm-like streams of consciousness while "A Companion for Owls" is more consciously narrated, and builds more on worldly experience, albeit of a certain sort.
“A Companion for Owls” is interesting and lively, earnest poetry with some stunning moments. In the end, though, I admit I left thirsty for a little modern absinthian irony. I occasionally tired of the voice and didn’t always take to the point of view. For example, in “Opposition to Bridges,” Boone says -
“If a man cannot cross a river on its own terms,
then he doesn’t deserve the other side.”
I tried to board the train on this, but in the end I simply thought, what a load of horseshit. Build the bridges!
Reading this book is a bit of a trip back in time, both in setting and voice, which forsakes all irony. Although not overtly dressed up that way, this is a book of religious poetry. The natural world and human interaction and relationships are addressed, too, but mostly Boone wonders about God’s purposes. In the end notes, Boone is quoted as having said “many dark and sleepless nights I have been a companion for owls. . .” God is mysterious and his intentions mostly impenetrable, leading to “our ragged life of questions” with its many loose ends.
The first poem in the book, “On God,” helps prepare the reader for all the questions to come, as it jumps in:
“Is there a god of the gulf between a man
and a horse? A god who hovers above the trench
of difference?”
Throughout the book, I was amazed how many questions emerged. For fun, here’s a brief selection:
Is the whole world endlessness?
Is sunlight dripping on the leaves a question suitable for clocks?
Can a wounded man be spoken of in terms of neutral hours?
Whose dust will I become?
Is grace forgetting we are but specks in the iris of a monstrous eye?
What about a god of animal innards?
Who discovered salt?
Upon my soul I wonder, who invented beauty?
Where does all gravity gather and what light does it make?
Is there a cave against sorrow?
Why is a woman like clover to a man?
What in the name of Shadrach, Meshach, and that other one is an inalienable right?
Aren’t we all worldlings, in a way?
How many miles are all the rivers put together?
"A Companion for Owls" has a number of things in common with Manning’s "Bucolics." Both books set out to show the integrity of the “natural man,” someone honest and situated somewhat to the left of civilization. Both books puzzle after God. "Bucolics" is a series of innocent and contemplative psalm-like streams of consciousness while "A Companion for Owls" is more consciously narrated, and builds more on worldly experience, albeit of a certain sort.
“A Companion for Owls” is interesting and lively, earnest poetry with some stunning moments. In the end, though, I admit I left thirsty for a little modern absinthian irony. I occasionally tired of the voice and didn’t always take to the point of view. For example, in “Opposition to Bridges,” Boone says -
“If a man cannot cross a river on its own terms,
then he doesn’t deserve the other side.”
I tried to board the train on this, but in the end I simply thought, what a load of horseshit. Build the bridges!
happy_stomach's review against another edition
5.0
"Desire and water have the same design:
to grow, then move and flow; to take and make,
and leave, and want, then rest: to bend the world
to fit a purpose which is good, despite
the fact of loss.
The world is God's canoe."
to grow, then move and flow; to take and make,
and leave, and want, then rest: to bend the world
to fit a purpose which is good, despite
the fact of loss.
The world is God's canoe."
setafire's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
3.75
iceangel9's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.5
This wonderful book of poetry is written from the perspective of Daniel Boone. It combines historical facts with the beauty of poetry.
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