Irma Sheppard

The Well of Longing Irma Sheppard

Publisher Marketing: The Well of Longing is a book of poems which trace from the author's childhood through adulthood and into senior years, a time span of seventy years, the stepping stones leading toward increased awareness, love and longing for the Presence of God. The opening poem consists of an unconventional view of the long scapegoated Judas, showing him in a true light as the loving and well-loved disciple of Jesus. Part Two presents the impact of growing spiritual awareness on the author's every day life situations. It describes the author's personal experience of the Presence of Avatar Meher Baba, and the continuing fragrance of His Love in her life. Many of the poems in Part Three of the book are meditative in nature, comprised of thoughts and intuitions which arose in the author 's daily life, as relationships and nature reflected some knitting together of spiritual value and sensory or emotional experience. Some poems touch on God's role as Trickster-the One Who makes happen what needs to happen, contrary to conventional reason and logic. A prevailing use of strong imagery brings the reader immediately into the author's personal experience. The poems are written in various styles: free form, pantoum, ghazal, haiku.