Lost in the Garden of Remembrance

Good poetry evokes feelings far beyond the literal meaning of the words used, and Lost in the Garden of Remembrance, Richard Kydd's collection of poems, triggers a wide range of heartfelt emotions. Kydd deals with the whole spectrum of human experience. He is metaphysically questioning, as in 'Holding On.' Poems such as 'I Witness Blues: It's 10 p.m. - Do You Know Where Your Brain is?' are keen social observations and commentary. He also describes the beauty of nature, as in 'Feast of Indian Summer.' Love is a constant theme. Poems such as 'My Dear Friend,' and 'Inside of You,' explore both the physical and spiritual elements of this basic human emotion. A strong thread of spirituality runs throughout the book. 'Looking in, Looking Out,' and 'In His Praise' are among the poems that explore man's relationship with God. But the primary experience that inspired Kydd to write this book was the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and poems dealing with the tragedy dominate the contents. In 'September Morning,' 'Sacred Dust,' and many others, Kydd expresses the fear, terror, and anguish experienced by the victims and survivors. Yet in the end, Kydd asks that we heal and grow, not sink into hatred and revenge.