The Denouement

A Collection of Poems

Ben Witherington III

• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Year: 2026
• Print ISBN:
  9798385263127
  9798385263134
• eBook ISBN:
  9798385263141
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Religious Poetry
• Index: Literature

Metaphysical poetry is poetry that ponders some of the more profound aspects of Christian theology ranging from the relationship of human beings created in God’s image to the rest of creation, to the nature and purpose of what God has called human beings to both be and do. In this, now the sixth collection of Ben Witherington’s poems written mostly in the twenty-first century, the focus is on the Denouement or slow decline of nature in the fall, of human nature in the Fall, of Witherington’s own settling into the latter years of his own life. All these things are explored at some length. There are poems particularly reflecting on the major seasons in the Christian year—Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Kingdomtide—but also reflections on major events in Christian history, ranging from the rescue of the Lindisfarne Gospels from invading enemies to the death and resurrection of Christ. There are poems that explore the specific meaning of the Christian life as it goes through aging, family tragedy, a half a century of teaching the Bible, and much more.

Table of contents

• TITLE PAGE
• PREFACE
• LINDISFARNE LITURGY
• SOMETHING DEEP INSIDE
• ANTITHESES
• SILENCE
• DEPARTURE
• JOB DESCRIPTION
• TIME
• NOVUM ANNUM
• DIRT
• LEAF LEAVING
• PURITY
• THE PRIORY
• TRUTH SERUM
• Coeur Incurvatus in Se
• BOXING DAY
• BLOOD VESSELS
• IMITATIO CHRISTI
• ‘DEATH BE NOT PROUD’
• FINALLY
• Harmonies Harming Me
• PARENTHOOD
• LENTEN LEXICON
• RSVP
• THE ALCOVE
• TRIVIAL PURSUIT?
• CRACKS IN THE WALL
• LIFE LONG/ LONG LIFE
• MYSTERIUM
• CONNUNDRUM
• THE HARBINGER
• THE HARBINGERS OF FALL
• SHADE TREE
• CREATURES OF HABIT
• THE BONDING
• OPUS MAGNUM
• A KNOTTY PROBLEM
• ‘IS JUSTICE JUST ICE’1
• CHANGED
• GLORIOUS ANACHRONISMS?