Richard Alan Ruof – författare

The poems in this book depict the conflict betweenthe secular-commercial and inner-spiritual views of life. In many poems the spiritual world interruptsthe daily round of life flowing into consciousness, bringing harmony and an aweof the divine. Other times the poemsportray lawlessness and distortion that make human life grotesque. Rather than teaching lessons, the poemsdescribe how modern society has lost touch with spiritual truths. As an obsession with the material andsecular way grows, a beautiful harmony yields to conflict; the divine andprofane vie for attention. Only arenewal of traditional faith restores the spiritual.

Poetrys rhythms relay the inner sights. The reader hears the words in his or her ownvoice, suddenly glimpsing the spiritual world, which departs the scene havingstirred the inner experience that often in modern life is fading.

The spiritual is ageless. But the material quickly dissolves exacting a toll upon the agethat surrenders the eternal dimension.

As secularism and commercialism proceed to dominate American life, the removal of structures that protect and nurture the spiritual experience has perilous effects. Values wane; greed, self-interest, and incidents of conflict alarm. Chambers of the soul are invaded and the dearest treasures sacked. Those most vulnerable are children and youth, the married, the poor, and the disconnected.

While in his first book Songs of the Lesser Servants the author presented in poetry spiritual experiences and perceptions of the changing social situation, this book concentrates on secularisms effect on the inner person. Melting World presents the ever-renewing spiritual contrasted with worldly ruin.

Poems of experience, vision, parable, and allegory spring from everyday situations. Each poem challenges the reader to examine current perceptions of faith and secularism.

Modern humanity must realize that secularism is not ideal society before it is too late to turn back. Under the guise of issues of church and state, mans spirituality is removed in schools, public places and media. Generations view man as a higher primate without soul or spirit. Spiritual man without Gods presence dies in a melting world. Hope remains in begin again.