Reminiscent of Malcolm Guite’s bestselling Sounding the Seasons, this beautiful collection offers scripture-inspired poems for each of the major seasons of the Christian year. It includes: • The Call to Prayer (with poetry on the nature of prayer); • Advent, Christmas and Epiphany; • Lent, Easter and Pentecost (including Wings of Wounded Glory, a sequence for Holy Week); • Transforming Ordinary Time (including some feasts which fall outside the major seasons); • In the School of Mary (poetic reflections on Mary, see as a model for prayer, contemplation and prophecy). An introduction considers the relationship between prayer and poetry and offers suggestions for using the book in public and private worship settings, and a closing sequence contemplates Mary as a figure of prayers and witness.

'I welcome this rich contribution to the growing revival of poetry for the Christian Calendar. Steven Shakespeare’s deft and mellifluous poetry is in touch not only with the riches of Christian scripture and liturgy but also with the earlier creation spirituality of these islands…. This will be an excellent resource for any church whose liturgy follows the pattern of the Christian year.' -- Malcolm Guite, poet, writer and songwriter
‘These prayer poems call us to get ‘out of our heads and … into the flesh of our praying’, putting our roots down deep into the rhythms of the liturgical year, the mysteries of incarnation and passion, and the Spirit-stirred undercurrents of creation itself. These are words that teach us to breathe.’ -- Al Barrett, co-author of Being Interrupted
‘Poetry and prayer are close relations. The poems in this collection demonstrate a sure hand in navigating the territory of the soul. Like the biblical psalms they have a rich complexity that will benefit from long reflection. Steven joins the great priest-poets of the Anglican tradition.’ -- Richard Peers, Anglican priest and founding Superior of the Sodality of Mary
‘This is a profound and wonderful book, offering rich resources to accompany the year’s worship and to deepen meditation, especially on the mysteries of the Rosary. It is for anyone who seeks to grow in the holy gift of grace. I heartily commend it.’ -- Frances Ward, writer, former Dean of St Edmundsbury

Steven Shakespeare is Professor of Continental Philosophy of Religion at Liverpool Hope University and an Anglican priest. He is the author of The Earth Cries Glory: Daily Prayer with Creation. He is a member of the Sodality of Mary, an inclusive association for Anglo-Catholic clergy whose Patron is the Archbishop of York.