He is the author of Opening King David, published by Wipf & Stock in 2011. It is a series of 150 poems which respond to, or leap from, thoughts expressed in the 150 biblical psalms. These poems previously appeared in four separate volumes, published by Antrim House Publishers. Although these poems often speak of faith, this is not a collection of devotional verse. Opening King David shows us Davis on his journey, with fellow-travelers — including his close friend Bill who experiences his wife’s slow dying through the time these poems were written. Scott Cairns has said of this book, “Brad Davis has pored over both the scriptures and our common experience...that we might glimpse how every challenge, every adversity might be met with grace.”
Reasons I Write
Those who assume they have no one
to whom they must account for their words—
like politicians, bankers, older brothers,
theologians, poets, headmasters—
they are wrong. Every knee will bow, every
tongue confess. So I do not use words
like “shit” or “Sovereign Lord” unaware.
Berryman, after Hopkins, wrote truly:
that line about Christ being the only
just critic. I write because it takes little
to spark my rage, and Saint Paul said we must
toil with our hands for the end of anger
is murder, and if any would be saved,
they must, with fear and trembling, work it out.
This is the first Kingdom Poets post about Brad Davis: second post, third post, fourth post.
Posted with permission of the poet.
Entry written by D.S. Martin. He is the award-winning author of the poetry collections Poiema (Wipf & Stock) and So The Moon Would Not Be Swallowed (Rubicon Press). They are both available at: www.dsmartin.ca
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