Keep the Feast: Poems

Keep the Feast by Stephen Cushman is a three-part book that explores history, sexuality, religious ardor, the planet's imperiled state, and the reasons for making art. The title poem, Psalm 119, is a formal model that celebrates faith's commitments and finds a way to live with the paradoxes of twenty-first-century life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2022
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press

Stephen Cushman's Keep the Feast is a captivating collection of poetry that blends the traditions of psalmists and devotional poets, offering an intimate and ecstatic doxology that is both celebratory and indictive. Through his poems, Cushman embarks on remarkable and daring explorations into various realms, including history, sexuality, religious passion, the perilous state of our planet, and the motivations behind artistic creation. At the core of this three-part book lies the title poem, which takes Psalm 119, the longest psalm in the Bible, as its formal model. In luminous verse, Cushman's speaker revels in the commitments of faith, finding in them a way to navigate the paradoxes of contemporary life and to maintain belief in a world that often defies comprehension.

The poem "Keep the Feast" opens with a celebration of the beauty and complexity of the natural world, as Cushman describes the "green hills" and "flowing streams" that surround us. He then turns his attention to the inner world, exploring the depths of human emotion and experience. In one particularly powerful passage, he writes:

We are here to bear witness,
to the beauty and terror of the world,
to the pain and joy of being alive.
We are here to love,
to be loved,
to create,
to destroy.

Through his poetry, Cushman invites us to embrace both the joys and challenges of life, to find meaning and purpose in the midst of uncertainty and chaos. He challenges us to live fully and authentically, to embrace our passions and fears, and to strive for a world that is more just and compassionate.

One of the most striking features of "Keep the Feast" is its use of biblical and religious imagery. Cushman draws on a rich tradition of religious symbolism to convey his message, using phrases and images from the Bible, as well as from other religious traditions. In one poem, he references the "burning bush" that Moses encounters in the wilderness, symbolizing the moment of divine revelation and calling. In another, he describes the "rose of Sharon" as a symbol of beauty and redemption, reminding us of the power of love and forgiveness.

Despite the depth and complexity of Cushman's poetry, he manages to maintain a sense of accessibility and accessibility. His language is clear and direct, and his poems are accessible to readers of all backgrounds and levels of experience. This is perhaps due in part to his use of simple and evocative imagery, as well as his ability to convey complex ideas in a relatable and relatable way.

In conclusion, Stephen Cushman's Keep the Feast is a remarkable collection of poetry that blends the traditions of psalmists and devotional poets, offering an intimate and ecstatic doxology that is both celebratory and indictive. Through his poems, Cushman embarks on remarkable and daring explorations into various realms, including history, sexuality, religious passion, the perilous state of our planet, and the motivations behind artistic creation. At the core of this three-part book lies the title poem, which takes Psalm 119, the longest psalm in the Bible, as its formal model. In luminous verse, Cushman's speaker revels in the commitments of faith, finding in them a way to navigate the paradoxes of contemporary life and to maintain belief in a world that often defies comprehension.

Weight: 128g
Dimension: 140 x 213 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780807174944